download pdf here

The Orphan Tsunami of 1700 tells a transpacific detective story by presenting its primary sources, Japanese documents and North American sediments and tree rings.

“… When the waves came ashore in Japan, they flooded fields and washed away houses. Samurai, merchants, and villagers recorded the mysterious event, but they observed no storm and felt no parent earthquake. In Japan, this tsunami was an orphan. …”

presentation based on the book by Dr. Brian Atwater:

“Just like the human arm, the big muscles that drive them are actually mounted on the back and tendons link the muscles to the joints.” The snake-arm is a wonderfully versatile piece of kit as it allows tools such as video cameras, lights, tack welding, cutting, gripping and swabbing gear to be fitted to its tip.

Robot surveillance

“… Robot airship being tested before entry in a competition based around a simulated hazardous materials spillage. The robot blimp must negotiate the accident site without human control, avoiding obstacles such as flames in order to locate dummies posed as casualties. The robot must also inform emergency services how the casualties may be reached safely. …”

Robotic Spider

“… designed to locate gas leaks or provide recon in radiated areas unsafe for humans. The ‘bot is highly mobile and uses hydraulics for powering its legs. Each leg has a bellows system that forces fluid into the legs to make the robot scurry about.”

Military Dogs

Teleoperated robot that “… is a remote human using a communication device to control the operations…”

Robotic prison wardens to patrol South Korean prison

article about robots that ”…are equipped with cameras and other sensors that allow them to detect risky behaviour such as violence and suicide.” and “… would alert human guards if they discovered a problem.”

The Observer #1 and #2 by Bjoern Schuelke.

10.00   Terence

10.30   Nicole

11.00   Leni

11.30   Magnus

12.00   Sho

12.30   Ling

—–

2.00   Christina

2.30   Suyi

3.00   Cao

3.30   Patricia

4.00   Rula

“The brave souls inhabiting Miyakejima, one of Japan’s Izu Islands, an archipelago just south of Tokyo, have a unique problem. Here, the land rests atop an active volcanic chain that has erupted six times in the last century. However, the danger isn’t just from volcanic eruptions, but from the highest concentrations of poisonous gasses (primarily sulfur) in the world regularly leaking up through the ground. …”

Read more here. (via atlasobscura)

“… Residents were evacuated from the islands in 1953 and 2000 due to volcanic activity and dangerously high levels of gas. The people returned in 2005 but are now required to carry gas masks with them at all times in case gas levels rise unexpectedly.”

I think we talked about the movie at some point, but just as a reminder, it’s a documentary on the safety and technologies of nuclear waste storage. It’s made in 2010 and has some really beautiful footage. Visually entertaining at the same time as very educational. A bit like our unit!!

Date: 16.01.2012
Time: 18:00
Venue: Lecture Hall