Media coverage: Robots deployed in Pike River mine

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