Okay, okay, guys, the skimmers are funny looking and all.. But this material has a thousand other applications. We use oil absorbent pads and oil/water separators already, if this material is as fantastic as you say you need to commercialize it in some other form than a funny looking solar robot thingy. Funny looking solar robot thingy, cute as it is, is very narrow in its scope and application.
Maybe I'm missing something here; but where is the collected oil stored? These things don't look very big at all, how often would they need to empty the collected oil? Looks to me like very often. They want them to go out for long periods of time collecting oil by them selves, but that's just not possible if they need to be emptied so often. I love the nano fabric, but I don't think this is the right way to implement it.
good concept. too bad they can get stuck easily; only work in open waters. and where does the oil go once it's trapped? doesn't seem like it can hold much..
Except that most oil in the gulf is not on top, but is mixed with the water column, partially thanks to the dispersant and partially that's where it broke down into small droplets and achieved buoyancy.
Sounds good, but what if a wave flips it over? Does it have the photo cells on the top and bottom? If it flipped then it could still power itself? Would also have to change the direction of the track movement also I think.
You could have a carrier ship that follows a complement of robots where they can dock to empty their oil and support them by doing maintenance and repairs. That's a good idea.
And where are you storing the oil geinus? Once you heat it and remove the oil off the fabric where does it go? back in the water? lol BP must have thought this one up!
Not only do I wonder how you collect these robots and "ring them out", but what about the wrath of the ocean. As it is not a swimming pool, how do these things correct themselves if they are flipped over? Also, oil has depth, and is not -just- on the surface. :S
in the video these things are moving fast and turning and on MIT website they are saying those thing will be powered by 100W solar cells. 1. how are they turning in the water? 2. where does the oil go? 3. 5,000,000 barrels with 5,000 units, over a month, that's 33.3 barrels of oil PER DAY PER UNIT! That's about 185 cubic feet. How are these things going to be removing 185 cubic feet of oil and still moving on 100W of energy? This is just plainly not true.
@eiffuy not true, a lot of things are possible, but need the right amount of investments. Investing in the environment still isn't that big in the corporate world, it's a nice pr stunt, but nothing more...
After going to their website and going over all the info they give; I can't help but wonder why/how they are getting funding for this. Go do the research, it's really quite laughable. The Nano fiber is awesome, and I applaud whoever invented it, but this small robot skimmer will never work the way they want it to if they continue developing it as is.
Okay, okay, guys, the skimmers are funny looking and all.. But this material has a thousand other applications. We use oil absorbent pads and oil/water separators already, if this material is as fantastic as you say you need to commercialize it in some other form than a funny looking solar robot thingy. Funny looking solar robot thingy, cute as it is, is very narrow in its scope and application.
Maybe I'm missing something here; but where is the collected oil stored? These things don't look very big at all, how often would they need to empty the collected oil? Looks to me like very often. They want them to go out for long periods of time collecting oil by them selves, but that's just not possible if they need to be emptied so often. I love the nano fabric, but I don't think this is the right way to implement it.
good concept. too bad they can get stuck easily; only work in open waters. and where does the oil go once it's trapped? doesn't seem like it can hold much..
I would lay on that thing and float around while getting drunk.
VERY COOL! I'm sure that there are additional applications as well. Let's hope that THIS product actually comes to mass produced fruition.
this is simple, elegant and brilliant. why are all these comments hung up on the things they can't do?
I read about this in my popular science magazine, pretty cool
Except that most oil in the gulf is not on top, but is mixed with the water column, partially thanks to the dispersant and partially that's where it broke down into small droplets and achieved buoyancy.
Sounds good, but what if a wave flips it over? Does it have the photo cells on the top and bottom? If it flipped then it could still power itself? Would also have to change the direction of the track movement also I think.
is it me or does the narrator sound like miss teen south carolina??
Maybe the swarm should dock with a tanker to unload the oil it has collected.
You could have a carrier ship that follows a complement of robots where they can dock to empty their oil and support them by doing maintenance and repairs. That's a good idea.
1) what about the plume underwater?
2) can you make a nano-slip'n'slide? you could slide into next week!!
And where are you storing the oil geinus? Once you heat it and remove the oil off the fabric where does it go? back in the water? lol BP must have thought this one up!
Not only do I wonder how you collect these robots and "ring them out", but what about the wrath of the ocean. As it is not a swimming pool, how do these things correct themselves if they are flipped over? Also, oil has depth, and is not -just- on the surface. :S
so how much does something like this cost? And where is the oil stored in the bot? How often does it need to be "emptied"?
start of the evil robot army!!!
in the video these things are moving fast and turning and on MIT website they are saying those thing will be powered by 100W solar cells.
1. how are they turning in the water?
2. where does the oil go?
3. 5,000,000 barrels with 5,000 units, over a month, that's 33.3 barrels of oil PER DAY PER UNIT! That's about 185 cubic feet. How are these things going to be removing 185 cubic feet of oil and still moving on 100W of energy?
This is just plainly not true.
CNN story today on this thing says they either burn the oil, or bag it & leave it floating for pick up...
This is silly - where does all of the oil go assuming you can remove it from the material? There's no storage bin.
What if wave comes up and filp it over ?
Is there anything feeble solar powered treadmills can't do?
yes
Where does the oil get removed to?
sounds too good to be true... but I hope it isn't. Love the idea
But what if its still hungry after all the oils is gone?
Just when you thought is was safe to go back into the water....
Still it can't the oil underground.
There is also MIT-Seaswarm (Closed Captioned) for the Deaf
@eiffuy not true, a lot of things are possible, but need the right amount of investments.
Investing in the environment still isn't that big in the corporate world, it's a nice pr stunt, but nothing more...
very good idea but, sadly we all know anyone with that type of money doesnt give a shit about the environment
After going to their website and going over all the info they give; I can't help but wonder why/how they are getting funding for this. Go do the research, it's really quite laughable. The Nano fiber is awesome, and I applaud whoever invented it, but this small robot skimmer will never work the way they want it to if they continue developing it as is.