Bomb disposal robots get new life sniffing out chemicals

It's not the first time a robot has been given fresh life with a new career, but it's always nice to see bots saved from the scrap heap, which is just what the Army's 95th Chemical Company has done with some PackBot-based bots that were once busy disposing of bombs in Iraq. Apparently, the bot was starting to show its shortcomings, so the Company decided to outfit it with some chemical-sniffing gear that lets it detect ammonia, chlorine, carbon monoxide, volatile organic compounds and all other sorts of bad things. Now, after some extensive testing, it seems that the robot (dubbed CUGV, for Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Unmanned Ground Vehicle) is nearly ready to see some action, with it set to begin field testing in both Iraq and Afghanistan this fall.

[Via Danger Room]

[aemond @ Jul 15th 2008 4:20PM]

I still wish to see common life (not special military-industrial) robot application...

[Shadyman @ Jul 15th 2008 6:14PM]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roomba

[Josh @ Jul 16th 2008 11:47AM]

There certainly are advances in commercial, home-use robots! One of the biggest one I've heard lately is that of the robots developing emotional bonding with someone. You can read about it at: http://www.internetevolution.com/author.asp?section_id=526&doc_id=155718&f_src=flffour

[iamsoinsane @ Jul 15th 2008 4:24PM]

Number 5 is Alive!

[Jack Blackwell @ Jul 15th 2008 5:02PM]

His name is WALL-E now mate, WAAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLEEEEEEEE

[Plothole @ Jul 16th 2008 6:21AM]

It looks like he's been dieting too.

[Erik @ Jul 15th 2008 4:29PM]

Too late!
iPhone already has the anti-bomb detection feature :)

[swordfish @ Jul 15th 2008 4:33PM]

So this is what happens when we blend WALL-E with Amy Winehouse?

[oliver hart @ Jul 15th 2008 4:41PM]

no steve guttenberg? wtf?

[konshuss @ Jul 15th 2008 4:42PM]

poor wall-e, look what they've done to you...

[Chaosmaster @ Jul 15th 2008 5:08PM]

Yeah, I'd say the packbot was my favorite to work with, still has some communication issues at long distances, but it was hands down beaten by the COTS Talon back in 2005. Too bad we still don't have those versions

[Kaiser-Machead @ Jul 15th 2008 5:35PM]

If it saves a few pooches from being employed to do this kind of work alongside the lives of the troops, then thumbs up.

But I for one do not welcome our huffing robot overlords. Cyber Rick James is upon us.

[spil @ Jul 16th 2008 10:30AM]

First came the Humvee, now the cubbernugvee!