From drones to subs: A hi-tech mission
LAND, water and airborne technologies have been added to the arsenal of equipment being used in the search and rescue effort for the 12 teenaged footballers and their assistant coach believed trapped in a flooded Chiang Rai cave since last Saturday.
Land-based technologies
l The impressive Leica Scanner P20, provided by RSK Rescue Equipment Co Ltd and used since the night of June 27 to provide survey data at the site for analysis. It is an ultra-high speed infrared laser scanner that can look through walls, see in the dark and deliver an image of the cave’s interior with good detail and 3D quality. The device costs US$70,000 (about Bt2 million).
Waterborne technologies
l Hi-tech special diving gear from Sweden and Italy provided by the team of Thai personnel led by former singer Narinthorn na Bangchang.
l A submersible robot equipped with sonar, provided by PTT Exploration and Production. It is capable of producing an underwater map useful for the human divers working in the muddy water.
l An award-winning remotely-operated underwater robot, provided by King Mongkut’s University of Technology North Bangkok (KMUNB). It can dive 100 metres down and allows its operator to see detail via the VR headset.
l The Zeabus AUV (autonomous underwater vehicle), which ranked fifth in the Robosub 2016 competition in the US, and was provided by Kasetsart University’s Faculty of Engineering. It can provide images of the cave underwater.
Airborne technologies
l Two heat-detecting drones from KMUNB, one being used to survey from outside the cave and paired with a waterproof diving-abled drone. They are used to survey inside the cave.
l Three drones normally used to explore for petroleum and provided by PTT Exploration, each equipped with a 30x optical zoom camera and a heat-detectors. They are able to take and process aerial photographs and incorporate shots into a 3D map.