Stealthy, small robot tracks enemy day of night.

• Author: Williams, Robert H.
• Position: TECH TALK: A TIP-SHEET ON THE LATEST GADGETS

A tiny, mobile surveillance robot that can be thrown through windows or over infrared walls has been outfitted with sensors so that it can spot bad guys in the dark. The Recon Scout IR--produced by ReconRobotics Inc. of Edina, Minn.--gathers critical intelligence before soldiers or cops ate committed.

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In tactical situations, SWAT teams send the robot in to determine the location of suspects and the layout of rooms, identify weapons the suspects might have and gain knowledge about the number, condition and locations of hostages. Armed with this information, tactical teams can plan with greater confidence and...