Jellyfish and Sandcastles

Festo's AquaJelly [click to see cool video] is an artificial, autonomous jellyfish that emulates swarming behavior with an intelligent, adaptive mechanism. It is a project in the company's Bionic Learning Network, which includes universities, institutes, and development companies that cooperate with Festo in research to adapt principles in nature to industrial applications. At the heart of the AquaJelly's structure is a central unit, a watertight laser-sintered body containing an electric motor, two lithium-ion polymer batteries, the recharging control unit, and the servomotors for the swash plate. This is surmounted by a translucent hemispherical dome that houses a control board and sensors, to which are attached eight tentacles for propulsion.

Slideshow: Nautical Robots Rule the Waves

A large number of robots have been designed to operate in or near water, whether fresh water or the salty seas. Military, homeland security, and naval operations are some of the more obvious application areas. For example, Bluefin Robotics' autonomous underwater vehicles and the Hawkes Remotes remotely-operated vehicles are designed for reconnaissance, surveillance, and detecting unexploded ordnance. Like many of their unmanned ground vehicle counterparts, they can go where humans can't.

These, and other mostly autonomous robots are also aimed at scientific exploration and data gathering, as well as maintenance of ships, oil and gas pipelines, telecommunications cables, or alternative offshore energy installations. Some target water or environmental health monitoring.

- courtesy of Design News Magazine

For those who can tear themselves away from their computers, Milford's Annual Great American Sand Sculpture Competition will take place Saturday, Aug. 25, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Walnut Beach.

Cash awards, trophies and ribbons will be awarded in various categories, including clubs/friends, families and individuals. All ages are welcome. Registration is free and open to all.

The Milford Fine Arts Council and Milford Bank sponsor the event. Parking for nonresidents is $5. Registration will be at 11 a.m., sand building from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and judging at 2:30 p.m.

[UPDATED 9/16/11] Water Alerts

The following public drinking water systems are under a boil water advisory:

• Mar-Lea Park Apts, Ashford
• Elmwood Court LLC, Bethel
• Quonnipaug Hills - Lower System, Guilford
• Quonnipaug Hills - Section I, Guilford
• Wellswood Estates Foundation, Inc., Hebron
• Cranberry Bog Apartments, Killingly
• Uconn Agronomy Research Farm, Mansfield
• Oakridge Village, Montville
• Stonington Institute - Main Building, North Stonington
• Chadwick Homeowners Assn., Inc., Old Lyme
• Region 18 Schools - Lyme Street, Old Lyme
• Brookview Water Company, Ridgefield

The updated list of public water systems under a boil water advisory is also available online at www.ct.gov/dph/ (click on “Hurricane Irene: Important Health Information.”)

Homeowners with private wells flooded or damaged by the storm should consider their wells contaminated and disinfect their wells before resuming their use. Information on private wells, as well as a list of laboratories certified to test drinking water, is available online at www.ct.gov/dph/ (click on “Hurricane Irene: Important Health Information.”) DPH Environmental Health staff is also available to answer questions by calling (860) 509-7296.