Page 128 - Concise Encyclopedia of Robotics

Flying Eyeball

Magnet Robot Magnet

Magnetic lines
of flux

Fluxgate magnetometer

relation precisely for all points in the environment.This allows the robot to
pinpoint its position in three-dimensional (3-D) space, provided a set of
reference coordinates is established.
See also COMPUTER MAP.
FLYING EYEBALL
The flying eyeball is a simple form of submarine robot. This robot can
resolve detail underwater, and can also move around. It cannot manipulate
anything; it has no robot arms or end effectors. Flying eyeballs are used in
scientific and military applications.
A cable, containing the robot in a special launcher housing, is dropped
from a boat. When the launcher gets to the desired depth, it lets out the
robot, which is connected to the launcher by a tether, as shown in the illus-
tration. The tether and the drop cable convey data back to the boat.
The robot contains a video camera and one or more lamps to illuminate the
undersea environment. It also has a set of thrusters, or propellers, that let
it move around according to control commands sent through the cable
and tether. Human operators on board the boat can watch the images

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