A new prototype device developed by Raytheon Co. can bash through concrete walls like nobody’s business. Plans for the 100 pound (45.5kg) Controlled Impact Rescue Tool, or CIRT, will place the device in the hands of firefighters, military personnel and search teams as part of a program developed by the Department of Homeland Security. Hit the jump to see the CIRT in action.
Apparently this is a “rescue robot.” It rolls into dangerous places and picks up injured people. The problem is, you need to be uninjured enough to get on this tiny robot and squat down in order for it to get you out of harms way.
Am I not seeing something? How could this rescue anyone? I prefer the Japanese corpse dragging robot, as at least that one could do the job it was designed to do. –Adam Frucci
I encountered this Star Wars reject at the RoboBusiness 2007 conference in Boston this week. Not only can this crane-happy robot diffuse bombs, hold a fire hose, and give injections, it will also drag your ass six ways from Sunday across the craggy desert—usually to safety, though in my case it was at high velocity towards a pretty sturdy wall. The war bot ranges in price from $80,000 to $300,000. The MSRP of a new set of cheeks is currently unknown. – Jack Ventura
Don’t forget to check out our RoboBusiness 2007 clips of the Bionic Baby Seal and the Hello Kitty Angel of Death ‘bot.
Event Site [RoboBusiness 2007]
