Robots To Control Oil Drilling Platforms

Roland Piquepaille writes "In 2015, and if everything goes well, oil drilling platforms located offshore Norway will be controlled by robots. Even today, these platforms don't use many people. But the idea behind the new platform concept is to install large modular process sections in unmanned areas to allow access by one or more robotic manipulators. In a few years, operators should be able to remain on land and to remotely control the oil drilling platforms. Obviously, this should reduce risks and costs. Tests have already started in a new laboratory in Trondheim. According to the plans, the researchers have 8 years in front of them to deliver the robotic tools able to control these very expensive platforms. But read more for additional references and pictures."

Reduce risk?

[pipatron]

From TFA:

Obviously, this should reduce risks

Reduce it for whom? Why is it that nobody ever thinks about the robots??

Re:And what about...

[westyx]

Actually a navy would work much better, what with all the sea stuff.

Re:And what about...

[dvice_null]

> Maybe not criminals, but millions of gallons of unprotected oil could attract quite a number of terrorists wishing to cause an ecological disaster

You mean greanpeace?

Re:Why are frieghters still manned?

[eh2o]

I predict disaster. This will only encourage the pirates to go robotic as well, ultimately escalating to a global war fought out with robots remotely controlled by ninjas.

G. B. Blackrock would advise against this

[ChicagoFan]

We need to be careful. I once read a documentary [seibertron.com] about robots taking control of an oil drilling platform. It didn't work out well for any of the humans who worked there; the platform designer even suffered a mental breakdown [seibertron.com] due to injuries suffered at the hands of the robots.

G. B. Blackrock owned that oil platform and I'm sure he would advise against robot control of other oil platforms.