remote control, is in some respects decidedly advantageous as compared to 
the ''blind'’ obtaining of specimens by various pieces of equipment dropped 
over the side on lines or cables. In the former case one not only obtains 
the specimen, but also considerable information concerning its nature and 
surroundings. 
General-Purpose Underwater Handling System. Figure 5 illustrates a 
general-purpose remotely-controlled underwater handling system which might 
be called a "'remote-controlled deep sea diver''. This freely-swimming sys- 
tem can maneuver either vertically or horizontally and can rest on the bot- 
tom if desired. It is equipped with general-purpose handling arms with 
which it can gather specimens either biological or geological. Its activi- 
ties are directed by means of TV and sonar; the additional senses, such as 
touch, temperature, pressure, etc., can be added if desired. The cable, 
which contains only three electrical conductors, transmits electric power 
to the vehicle as well as serving as a data and command link. One can 
readily visualize a great variety of uses for a machine of this type in ex- 
ploration of the ocean bottom, in locating and perhaps even reading scien- 
tific instruments on the ocean bottom itself, as well as in the basic pro- 
cess of gathering scientific specimens. 
Accessory System for Bathyscaphe. Bathyscaphes and other vessels in- 
tended for exploration of the very deep ocean offer the important ability 
to bring the man in the near vicinity of the area to be explored. The 
Bathyscaphe, as such, seriously limits the activity of its occupant to 
visual observation of his surroundings and to taking readings on perma- 
nently installed scientific instruments. 
The attachment to the exterior of a Bathyscaphe of even a simple re- 
mote handling system would greatly increase the effectiveness of the scien- 
tific observer, since it would enable him physically to handle and work with 
the items in his surroundings, as well as merely to look at them. Such han- 
dling systems might range from a simple arm mounted upon the exterior of the 
vessel to a complete auxiliary Mobot system, including both handling arms 
and supplementary TV vision which could operate up to some little distance 
away from the Bathyscaphe. This latter combination would eliminate the 
necessity of maneuvering the Bathyscaphe itself, which is a rather diffi- 
cult and power-consuming operation. Systems intermediate in complexity 
between these two can of course be readily engineered to meet the require- 
ments of particular programs. 
It is important to realize that even in the case of manned submersibles 
one is still confronted with the hostile environment operating problem. The 
man is not "really there''. He is separated from his surroundings by the 
pressure hull of the Bathyscaphe, and his senses and his manipulations must 
of necessity be accomplished by remote control equipment of some sort. 
Bottom-crawling Systems. It is sometimes desirable to employ remote 
handling systems which move about on the ocean floor as opposed to the free- 
swimming systems discussed in the preceding paragraphs. Figure 6 shows a 
typical system of this type. Like all Mobot systems, it is remotely con- 
trolled by means of a cable. The man who directs its motions may be located 
either on a shore station or on a surface vessel, depending upon the sur- 
roundings. The principal utility of a bottom-crawling vehicle lies in its 
ability to handle heavy objects. It may also be equipped with earth-moving 
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