Remotely Operated Water Canon Uses Roboteq Technology to Defend against Somali Pirates
SCOTTDSDALE, Ariz. & STOKE ON TRENT, England--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Roboteq’s motor control technology (www.roboteq.com) has been successfully used by Mirage Services in the UK (www.mirageservices.co.uk) to implement a remote control system for high-power water canons. Mounted on the side of commercial ships, the canons are operated by the crew located out of harm’s way. The canons propel a high power jet of over 3000 liters/min (750 gpm) up to 50 meters (150’) away, making the ship practically impossible for pirates to approach and board.
The challenge of this application was to provide precise and reliable controls along the canon’s X and Y axis. The operator controls for the canon servo motors are from two thumb-operated industrial joysticks that are connected directly to the Roboteq AX2550 dual-channel DC Motor. Limit switches connected to the Roboteq controller are located at the end of the canon’s travel on each axis and will stop the motors and prevent jamming when moved too far.
The ships which are being equipped with these systems will soon be transiting high piracy risk areas. While we all hope that the canons will never be needed, all who participated in this development will take great pride should one of these ships come under attack, and successfully repel its assailants as a result of the efforts and ingenuity put into this system.
See detailed story at
http://www.roboteq.com/gallery/teleoperated-water-canon-repels-pirates.html
About Roboteq
Founded in 2001 by experts in embedded computing and power electronics, Roboteq’s mission is to develop products and technologies that allow novices and professionals alike to build innovative, flexible and affordable mobile robots. Roboteq controllers are now used in over 1000 different robot designs around the world.
About Mirage Services
Located in Stoke-on-Trent in the UK and servicing customers across Europe, Mirage Services is an automation and controls company with a long record of achievements, notably in the area of Automatic Guided Vehicles for the automotive manufacturing industry. Mirage had already successfully completed several projects using Roboteq’s motor controller.
High Resolution Photo available at: www.roboteq.com/press/watercanon.jpg
Contacts
Editorial & Sales Contact:
Mirage Services
Nick Mountford
(+44) 01782 642200
enews@roboteq.com
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