Rescue bots: first responders slow to take up robot technology.

AuthorMagnuson, Stew
PositionRobot Technology

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PITTSBURGH -- Bomb squads in the United States are taking notice of what's happening in the streets of Iraq. Robots are keeping explosive ordnance disposal personnel out of harm's way.

Robot manufacturers are finding more customers among first responders charged with investigating unattended bags in train stations, orphaned military explosives and rudimentary pipe bombs.

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But other parts of the emergency services community have been slow to take up the technology.

Hazardous material response and special weapons and tactics teams can use robots, but members of these sectors either don't know about the machines' benefits, or don't have the funds to buy them, experts have said.

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Those first responders who have used robots swear by them.

"If you can save one life with the robot, it's worth the money you pay for it," Sgt. Tom Calabro, a member of the Houston SWAT team, said at the Robo Business conference.

His unit has used a robot for one year and he already has numerous anecdotes proving their worth.

They are mostly used in situations where criminals, or suicidal people, have barricaded themselves in buildings.

In these situations, gathering intelligence is key. Most often, these barricaded individuals are armed, and they sometimes have hostages. Booby-traps are also possibilities, he said. Previously officers had to do the reconnaissance themselves. Now robots are taking their place, and allowing the SWAT team to stay at safe distances.

His team recently sent a robot into a house where a chemist operating a methamphetamine lab had barricaded himself in a room. The robot was able to map out every room in the house except the one where the suspect was holed up.

"You can't plan without intelligence," Calabro said. "If we have to send in a team, we want to know what the layout of the house is."

In another case, an armed and wounded burglar had escaped into his house and was keeping three of his children hostage. He swore he would come out shooting.

After negotiating the release of the children, the team sent in the robot. The suspect was so terrified of the machine, he immediately surrendered.

For Lt. James Melton, a haz-mat specialist with the Santa Ana, Calif., fire department, robots not only provide valuable reconnaissance, they buy time.

The fastest haz-mat teams take 20 minutes to put on their protective gear after arriving on a scene. But 40 minutes is more typical.

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