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Last Updated: Jul 2nd, 2008 - 21:15:22 |
(NewsUSA) - On Nov. 13, 1981, a robotic arm was first deployed out of the space shuttle Columbia's cargo bay. Afterward, NASA pilot Richard Truly said to mission control, "The arm is out and it works beautifully."
Canadarm, the 50-foot robotic arm developed by Canadian company Spar Aerospace, played an integral role on many NASA missions. An upgraded version of the arm was later installed on the International Space Station.
Just as Canadarm revolutionized the field of robotic manipulators in space, another Canadian company has developed an even larger robotic arm to accomplish similar feats here on Earth - beneath our waters.
The Valor Corp. recently introduced a line of robotic manipulator systems called Tiger-Lynk, an offshore technology that follows much of Canadarm's spirit of innovation.
Valor's newest arm can remotely lift and manipulate objects weighing more than 5,100 pounds at depths of 136 feet. Energy companies can use the technology to build and repair offshore oil rigs and platforms without diver assistance.
"While Canadarm proved the ability to work remotely in space, [Valor's] arm has proven the ability to work remotely underwater and on the surface," said Claus Wagner-Bartak, former executive of Spar Aerospace. "This has made it possible to now go places and do things in underwater environments that were once considered too hostile for human divers."
Like Canadarm, Tiger-Lynk combines brawn and precision with versatile performance capabilities. Interchangeable tool attachments, called heads, can be affixed at the end of the arm for drilling, welding, dredging and cutting, in addition to manipulating underwater objects.
Officials at Valor say their technology can not only work in offshore energy, but also in other underwater industries ranging from civil engineering to disaster recovery to underwater forest harvesting. It can also work with human divers, cranes and other heavy equipment to further enhance safety and improve efficiency.
Canada's "other arm," featuring Valor's Tiger-Lynk technology, will soon be available in the United States and worldwide.
For more information, visit www.thevalorcorp.com or call 503-502-5104.
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