BEAR robot roars to the rescue
(Credit:
Vecna Robotics)
While unmanned air vehicles are putting pilots out of business, a new U.S. Army-funded robot could do the same for rescuers and stevedores.
The humanoid BEAR (Battlefield Extraction-Assist Robot) can locate victims in a mine shaft, battlefield, toxic spill, or earthquake-damaged structure. And then it can lift them up and then carry them over long distances to safety, according to the manufacturer Vecna Robotics. And it does this without risking any more lives (PDF).
The challenge was to enhance search and rescue while reducing the time military, police, and emergency response personnel have to risk their lives each day. More than half of the Medals of Honor earned by medics are awarded posthumously, according to Vecna.
So far there are nine incarnations of BEAR--each a little more capable than its predecessor. Improvements to date include explosion- and fire-resistant treads; a ruggedized, high-speed, high-energy drive system; explosion- and fire-resistant battery cells; and enhanced dexterity.
The current prototype features a powerful upper body controlled by hydraulics that can lift 500 pounds, according to the developer. A "mobility platform" featuring two independent sets of tracked "legs" allows it to balance on the balls of its "ankles."
But don't lay those firefighters off just yet. Vecna is still working on the BEAR's ability to navigate through complex environments and to elevate the level of human-robot interaction.
The project is sponsored by the U.S. Army's Telemedicine and Advanced Technology Research Center, which is part of the U.S. Army Medical Research and Material Command.
Mark Rutherford is a West Coast-based freelance writer. He is a member of the CNET Blog Network, and is not an employee of CNET. Email him at markr@milapp.com. Disclosure. 
THE FIRST VICTIM OF THE ROBOT APOCALYPSE SAYS WHAT?
..Oh @#%&!!!
>> Skynet, here we come.
..was thinking that by the time the pic of BEAR crashing through the door. (PROCLAIMING: GREEN CARDS! GREEN CARDS!)
>> Please defer your skynet gloom-and-doom
...@#%& You!
>> but later there's running...and...and screaming...
..Classic!!! ..er, uhm, Jurassic! Excellent WarpKay. That's funny!
My 2 cents.. Where is the Open Source community on this one? Shouldn't there be a civil version like a cross between CP3O and Rambo. ..C3POBO or something? Intel has got some crazy libraries available plus there's probably tons more in other corners of the net. Seems like we need to be thinking about a Minutemen version for keeping the domestic tranquility safe from psycho-autonomous-military-bots. ..and afterwards they could get back to mowing the lawn and rigging better cabel cahnnels. Right. >;-)
This one makes Jonny 5 look like a nerd.
- by panthecat August 24, 2009 3:15 PM PDT
- Once they become fully autonomous, robots won't have much use for humans.
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