Volume 8, Number 4     July/August 2000

Technology Transfer

Technology Safely Strips Paint from Ships

A new robotic device, which has received kudos from environmentalist and undersea explorer Jean-Michel Cousteau, could revolutionize paint removal in the shipping industry.

The system, which safely strips paint from the hulls of ships without polluting the environment, is based on NASA robotics technology and was developed by NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Pasadena, California, the Robotics Engineering Consortium at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and UltraStrip Systems, Inc. of Stuart, Florida.

The new system consists of an automated robotic device that is magnetized to the ship, a set of high-pressure jet streams and a controller that helps the robot navigate along the surface of the ship. The water is filtered and then reused, while the paint residue is collected in a container to be disposed of safely. Using this method, no toxic dust or paint flakes are generated to pollute nearby areas or be inhaled by system operators. Previous stripping methods sandblasted paint from a ship’s hull, producing large amounts of toxic airborne dust and exposing workers, nearby communities and the environment to significant risks. The new method, which uses UltraStrip’s patented Robotic M2000 hydroblasting technology, uses only water in the paint-removal process and produces dried paint chips and clean water. Since a powerful vacuum collects all water and paint, nothing can escape to pollute the environment.


NASA Teams with National Cancer Institute

To treat symptoms of the common cold, most people take a gel capsule containing hundreds of granular pieces of medicine as a remedy for coughing, sneezing and a runny nose. Now, imagine ingesting a capsule of similar size, containing microscopic sensors to detect, diagnose and treat disease inside the human body. It sounds like science fiction. However, NASA, in collaboration with the National Cancer Institute (NCI), is working to turn this vision into “science fact.”

To mark the unique partnership, NASA Administrator Daniel Goldin and National Cancer Institute (NCI) Director Dr. Richard Klausner signed a memorandum of understanding to develop new biomedical technologies that can detect, diagnose and treat disease here on Earth and in space. The development of such technologies will improve life on Earth and one day revolutionize medicine and space travel.

The joint collaboration comes as NASA and NCI each move forward with historic initiatives requiring major advances in available technology. NCI is attempting to define cancer for the first time based on the unique molecular characteristics of tumors. NASA is seeking to develop a new form of patient care—“microscopic explorers”—that would travel through the human body, monitoring health conditions and detecting molecular signatures of disease when they appear. This technology will allow NASA to monitor astronaut health and treat conditions in space, where medical test capabilities and communication with Earth will be limited.

For more information, contact Renee N. Juhans in the NASA Headquarters Office of Public Affairs
202/358-1712, rjuhans@hq.nasa.gov

Please mention you read about it in Innovation.

 

  A new robotic device that safely strips paint from the hulls of ships without polluting the environment, is shown in action removing paint from a test wall. (Photo provided by Jet Propulsion Laboratory.)



“Having now personally seen demonstrations of the M2000, I know the system works,” said Cousteau, president of Ocean Futures of Santa Barbara, California. It is inspiring to see a technology that can have such a positive environmental impact while at the same time providing a benefit to the profitability of the shipyard industry.”

“Robotics technology developed at the various NASA centers has resulted in new products ranging from automated harvesting, coal mining, earth moving and material transport to robotic inspection and repair for gas pipelines, and agricultural spraying, to name a few,” said Dr. Neville Marzwell, who heads Advanced Concepts and Technology Innovations at JPL.

“We feel that the UltraStrip application is an excellent match with our commercialization goals. This system gives us a great opportunity to showcase robotics technology in a significant commercial application which will benefit the environment at the same time,” said Bill Ross, consortium project manager.

Still in development are computer-vision-based “cruise control”; sensors to detect surface quality, paint thickness and any paint left on the hull; and diagnostic and analytic tools to optimize the speed of the robot for efficient and effective operations.

The technology was created under the National Robotics Engineering Consortium—a NASA, industry and university partnership to develop new industrial products and services from technologies that help solve key problems and reinvigorate the U.S. robotics industry. Consortium activities provide a process to move rapidly developing robotics technology into industrial applications, and, in turn, to provide next-generation technology products for the agency’s science missions. The consortium also provides hands-on experience to students who will be the next generation of robotics scientists, technologists and engineers.



For more information, please contact Dr. Neville I. Marzwell at Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Neville.I.Marzwell@jpl.nasa.gov 818-354-6543. Please mention you read about it in Innovation.

NASA Official: Jonathan Root

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