The measure lays the foundation to require the use of remote controlled and automatic shut-off valves on new pipelines.

FORBES: Pipeline Explosion Rattles Natural Gas Industry

To that end, a government watchdog group is recommending the use of automatic shut-off valves, as opposed to those that must be manually attended.

FORBES: Pipeline Explosion Rattles Natural Gas Industry

An aviation official, speaking on condition of anonymity because he wasn't authorized to talk to reporters, blamed the pilot, saying initial results of the investigation showed he jumped out when the fire began, instead of shutting off valves that would have prevented the gas canister from exploding.

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The aim is to produce an automaton that could help people do difficult jobs underwater shutting off leaking oil valves, for example.

ECONOMIST: Robots

These provide access to the central bore of the well underneath most of the heavy valves which should have closed off the flow of oil, but for some reason did not.

ECONOMIST: The Gulf oil spill