Three robots may soon be involved in the Pike River mine disaster – an unprecedented number.
The first robot, which stalled yesterday due to water damage, was restarted this morning, and managed to travel a kilometre into the mine before running out of batteries. Before doing so, it captured footage of the helmet of one of the men who escaped the blast, with the light still on.
A second robot is also travelling up the tunnel and capturing footage, with a third robot (sent from Australia) having arrived this morning.
The Australian robot, which is designed specifically to travel down long tunnels and send back visual and audio information about the condition of the tunnel.
A fourth robot is being sent from the US.
Media coverage (newest first):
24 Nov
The Press: Robot gathers footage
Otago Daily Times: Call for specialised mine robot
Newstalk ZB: Two robots active in Pike River Mine
RadioNZ: Robot restarted in mine
Morning Report: Pike River Mine disaster robot restarted
23 Nov
Newstalk ZB: Defence Minister offers robot explanation
Checkpoint: Another robot arrives on the West Coast
Checkpoint: Americans assess usefulness of their emergency robot
Checkpoint: Mine rescue gets help from Western Australia
22 Nov
NBR: Robots little use in mining rescues – expert
BusinessWeek – Robot breakdown delays rescue of trapped NZ miners