Sep 24, 2016 @ 16:26 |
Starfish is an underwater tethered robot that can search, grapple and retrieve objects from lake, river and ocean floors.
For the average person you can now buy various versions of “copter” drones, depending only on their budget. The point is, when we think of drones, we typically think about one direction and that is up. That direction is about to change and you can now purchase a nifty little device that’s sure to be a hit with the underwater diving and boating community.
A Canada based underwater drone Maker Company, SheerTech developed an underwater drone called Starfish. Starfish is an underwater Drone designed to retrieve items from the lake or sea bed.
Starfish is an underwater tethered robot that can search, grapple and retrieve objects from lake, river and ocean floors. It can be used to explore the underwater realm, retrieve items lost overboard from your boat, anchor a boat to underwater mooring or inspect the inside of pipes and other enclosed underwater environments.
(Starfish Production Prototype showing retrieval of objects from underwater and agility of underwater control. Also shows Starfish operating without Grapple Claw attachment as would be used for underwater inspection only.)
Starfish connects its human operator on the surface with a 300-foot umbilical cord designed to allow you to haul objects to the surface. Divers will tell you, 300 feet is a long way down and there’s a good deal that can be done between the surface and that depth.
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You do not need a degree in ocean engineering to operate Starfish, just plug Starfish into any 12 volt power supply throw it in the water and start “Starfishing” for treasure. You can see through Starfish’s underwater eyes on a video screen mounted on the light weight hand controller allowing you to steer underwater with a view as though you were on-board the Drone.
The four 12-volt thruster motors are used to maneuver underwater and there’s a video camera on-board as well as a grappling claw capable of securing items weighing up to 300 pounds before the operator pulls the Starfish to the surface.
You can now pre-order online for delivery this year or early next year.
Image: SheerTech