Bedford Robots Help Find Oil Plumes In Gulf

Environmental experts say there's still no way to estimate the damage done by the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

Researcher Samantha Joye of the University of Georgia plans to tell a congressional subcommittee Wednesday that her team has traced a giant underwater oil plume stretching 15 miles out from the collapsed well head.

"It's an infusion of oil and gas unlike anything else that's ever been seen anywhere, certainly in human history," Joye said.

During an expedition to the gulf, Dr. Joye and her team were able to confirm the plume, deep under the ocean, using technology built in Massachusetts by the company iRobot.

Joe Dyer, head of the Bedford-based company's government and industries division, joined WBUR to discuss how that technology is being put to use in the Gulf.