Giant, Tiny Robotic Workers Snag OTC Limelight

摘要

From the very, very small to the ridiculously large, robots took the lion's share of the spotlight at the recent Offshore Technology Conference 2016 in Houston. The robots ranged in size from a small drone that can fly 250 miles, to unmanned boats, to an underwater robotic worker the size of a mid-size SUV. But they have in common very enthusiastic humans ready to tell anyone listening about their abilities and promise. At one booth, James Stafford, chief executive officer of Houston-based AeroLift eXpress showed off a small drone his company is marketing. A pilot by training, Stafford told Natural Gas Week he got the idea of commercializing drone technology while on duty in Afghanistan.