By Andy Choi
Gallatin County Search and rescue team gets help in their underwater search operations from a robot developed by the students of the Montana State University.
Cameron Law, a mechanical engineering graduate student and volunteer with Gallatin County Search and Rescue, helped design and build an underwater robot for the team.
Cameron Law stated that the idea to build an underwater search robot originated during one of the search operations that he took part in. He is a search-and-rescue volunteer and a mechanical engineering student at the University.
The remotely operated robot is made of four propellers, a claw, camera and a control box. The camera facilitates viewing underwater up to a depth of 300 ft. The claw is used for picking up objects underwater. Unlike the divers who require oxygen supply, the robot is free from such hassles. However, battery life is a point to be considered while using the robot. Law along with four other students from the University worked on creating the robot. Law mentioned that the operator can conveniently conduct underwater search operations without having to leave the shore with the help of the robot.
Source: http://www.gallatin.mt.gov