Yokohama fire department enlists robotic crawler to aid evacuations

Robots that rescue folks in disaster areas or other perilous situations aren't exactly a new idea, but this bot set to go into service in Yokohama certainly takes a more unique, and slightly more terrifying approach to the matter than usual. Apparently, the seemingly unnamed robot can not only carry a 110 kilogram person over difficult terrain with ease, but monitor the occupant's vital signs as well, although complete details on that, and any other technical details are a bit hard to come by at the moment. As with most such robots, however, this one's apparently not completely autonomous, with it packing some infrared cameras to allow its operator to locate folks even in conditions with poor visability. No word if it'll also be offering itself up as a capsule hotel in its days off.

[Bizam Posted Mar 2nd 2009 1:50PM]

Yokohama...mitsubishi...sashimiiiii

[The WC Posted Mar 2nd 2009 3:29PM]

Vore fetishists would probably find this useful as a sex toy.

>< I think I just squicked my own mind...

[PeterFnet Posted Mar 2nd 2009 4:45PM]

It's all good until that thing gets going and goes too fast into a corner. I don't see much padding on that.

[superhobo Posted Mar 2nd 2009 6:19PM]

OM NOM NOM NOM

[Marc L Posted Mar 2nd 2009 8:56PM]

It is impossible for one thing to be more unique than another. You need to study your grammar... son! (Tracy Morgan)

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 2nd 2009 10:42PM]

For my next trick, I will saw a man in half!

[gohan224 Posted Mar 3rd 2009 12:58PM]

yeah... cause thats what you need to escape a fire... to be cooked in a robotic toaster on treads! (seriously, if you crawled in that thing to escape a blaze, the metal box around you would probably get pretty hot and suffocating!)

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 4th 2009 4:26PM]

INSERT HUMAN
INSERT HUMAN
INSERT HUMAN

I/O ERROR
COMPRESSING...

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 6th 2009 6:18AM]

http://www.google.com/search?q=visability
Did you mean: visibility