THE TERMINATOR
Robot hand will help win bomb war
THE safety of British soldiers in Afghanistan is being put in the hand of a ROBOT.
And it could save countless lives in the battle against deadly roadside bombs.
A revolutionary £90,000 hand - just like cyborg Terminator Arnold Schwarzenegger's in the hit movie - is to be used to defuse killer IEDs on the battlefield within a year. Bomb disposal troops, well away from the device, will wear a cyberglove linked remotely to the robot which copies their hand movements to defuse it.
A senior military source told the News of the World: "The benefits are obvious and a lot of people are very excited by this piece of kit.
"Bomb disposal is one of the most dangerous jobs in the world and anything that takes the human out of that situation is of major interest."
The Ministry of Defence began testing the robo-hand - made by North London firm The Shadow Robot Company - six months ago and it could be in service in the dangerous Helmand Province as soon as next year.
The limb is manoeuvered by 20 tiny motors and is so sensitive it can even tenderly handle soft fruit without leaving a mark. Company director Rich Walker said: "That sort of precision is essential when you're disconnecting the red or the blue wire."
An MoD spokesman said: "We are committed to delivering the best equipment for our armed forces.
"The threats they face are continually evolving and we must always try to stay one step ahead of the opposition."
This article has 1 comment
WELL DONE TO THE BRITISH COMPANY THAT HAVE INVENTED THIS ROBOTIC HAND, EVEN THOUGH IT WILL SAVE MANY OF OUR BRAVE BOYS IN THE FUTURE, SOME MAY THINK A LITTLE TO LATE FOR SOME OF THEM. I DO HOPE THE GOVERMENT CAN GET THIS DEVISE OUT THERE AS SOON AS.
By FRANCES.. Posted October 18 2009 at 12:05 PM.