Waldo

Waldo may refer to:

Name

Places

Remote manipulator

A remote manipulator, also known as a telefactor, telemanipulator, or waldo (after the short story "Waldo" by Robert A. Heinlein which features a man who invents and uses such devices), is a device which, through electronic, hydraulic, or mechanical linkages, allows a hand-like mechanism to be controlled by a human operator. The purpose of such a device is usually to move or manipulate hazardous materials for reasons of safety.

History

In 1945, the company Central Research Laboratories was given the contract to develop a remote manipulator for the Argonne National Laboratory. The intent was to replace devices which manipulated highly radioactive materials from above a sealed chamber or hot cell, with a mechanism which operated through the side wall of the chamber, allowing a researcher to stand normally while working.

The result was the Master-Slave Manipulator Mk. 8, or MSM-8, which became the iconic remote manipulator seen in newsreels and movies, such as the Andromeda Strain or THX 1138.

Waldo station

Waldo station is a bus station, and former train station, in Waldo, Florida. It serves Amtrak's Thruway Motorcoach bus system and previously served trains for Amtrak and other rail operators. The station is located at the interchange of US 301 and State Road 24 in Waldo, Florida.

The original Waldo train station was built by the Seaboard Air Line Railway as a two-story structure with a large freight room, and was a divisional headquarters. In 1930, the top floor and part of the freight room were removed. In 1963, the old building was replaced by the current structure. Beyond the merger with the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad in 1967, and the takeover of passenger service by Amtrak in 1971, Waldo Station served the Silver Meteor and later the Palmetto which was rerouted to the CSX S-Line in 1979, until it was truncated to Savannah, Georgia on November 1, 2004, prompting Amtrak to revive Silver Star service to Tampa along the same line shared by the current Silver Meteor, and part of the suspended Sunset Limited. Today Waldo only serves as a stop for Amtrak Thruway Motorcoach buses between Jacksonville, Gainesville, Ocala, Wildwood, Dade City, Zephyrhills, and Tampa.