Giant Israeli death-robots!
Well, not quite, but it’s still a neat use of robotic technology. Israeli researchers are working on a snake robot that can be used for clandestine scouting and planting explosives, and it uses some cool technology:
According to (Lt. Col. Gabi) Dobresco, the robotic snake could be useful in urban and subterranean warfare, enabling the inspection and surveillance of sewage systems, narrow tunnels, or culverts, inaccessible by other systems. Another advantage of such robots is the fact that the entire robot acts as highly flexible arm having multiple Degrees Of Freedom (DOF).
The vision for snake robots, outlined by Dobresco includes highly maneuverable snake shaped robot that can maneuver through difficult terrain, ‘sneak’ stealthily inside buildings, use its sensors to scan their interiors. The robot will be able to carry disposable sensors that could be separated and left behind to monitor activity inside buildings. When suspicious activity inside buildings is detected, the stealthy robot will be able to identify specific targets while remain virtually unnoticed, and leave behind delayed activated explosive charges for employing lethal effect.
As primary sensors, the robot will be equipped with a thermal imager, miniature cameras or low-light TV sensors, and possibly laser scanners operating as laser radar (LADAR). As each of the links is embedded with cameras, the entire group provides redundant, instant multiple 360 degree view of the surrounding while mapping of indoor and subterranean areas by laser radar.
This is actually the third generation of robotic snake the Israelis have worked on. Below is video of the first:
Mind you, they’re now two generation past what you just saw. This is going to have the brave, brave jihadis so paranoid, they’ll shoot every snake they see, robotic or not.
I’ve often joked, in reference to American military technology, that “we have all the best toys.” It looks like the Israelis are giving us some competition in that department.
(Crossposted at Public Secrets)