AssetID: 54502233
Headline: RAW VIDEO: Robot Dogs Of War! British Army Tests High-Tech Bomb Disposal Hounds
Caption: Britain will soon have a best friend in its fight against terrorism having completed successful tests of robot dogs that can conduct bomb disposal. The high-tech hounds are set to significantly reduce the risk to military personnel by revolutionising the disposal process. U.K. Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) trials took place over four days and included the dogs remotely classifying and identifying threats using sensors, defusing bombs, and tasks such as opening doors and climbing stairs. Dstl worked alongside British and international industry, L3Harris, Marlborough Communications Ltd and AeroVironment (Tomahawk Robotics) on the trials. According to officials they showed the dogs, which images showed had as their basis Boston Dynamics’ famous Spot the Dog design, reduce the need to put a bomb disposal operator in harm’s way by increasing the number of tasks that robots can perform remotely, and allow delicate and precision movements to be completed reliably. The trials involved a series of scenarios, where the robot was asked to perform various tasks including opening and closing doors autonomously, navigating stairs, inspecting improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and consequently firing disruptors at the IEDs to render them safe. Minister for Defence Procurement and Industry, Maria Eagle, said: “This advanced technology demonstrates our commitment to protecting the military personnel who keep our nation safe, at home and abroad. “By working with industry and combining cutting-edge robotics with existing expertise, we’re ensuring our bomb disposal teams have the best possible tools to carry out their vital work safely and effectively.” Bomb disposal operators praised the technology demonstrated in the trial and provided beneficial feedback to shape the next phase of Dstl investment in bomb disposal robotics. Chief Science and Technology Officer, Dstl, Prof Andy Bell, said: “This is a great example of how Defence can achieve an advantage through the exploitation of technology, fusing together military and commercial systems to keep our people and country safe from deadly threats.” Artificial Intelligence (AI) drones capabilities were also tested during the trials.
Keywords: robot dogs,feature,photos,video,robotics,technology,bomb disposal,tech,british army
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