Bear robot rescues wounded troops
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Bear robot rescues wounded troops
(BBC NEWS)
The US military is developing a robot with a teddy bear-style head to help carry injured soldiers away from the battlefield.
The Battlefield Extraction Assist Robot (BEAR) can scoop up even the heaviest of casualties and transport them over long distances over rough terrain.
New Scientist magazine reports that the "friendly appearance" of the robot is designed to put the wounded at ease.
It is expected to be ready for testing within five years.
While it is important to get medical attention for injured soldiers as soon as possible, it is often difficult and dangerous for their comrades to reach them and carry them back.
The 6ft tall Bear can cross bumpy ground without toppling thanks to a combination of gyroscopes and computer controlled motors to maintain balance.
BEAR FACTS
Robot carries dummy - annotated with details
1. Teddy bear face designed to be reassuring
2. Hydraulic upper body carries up to 227kgs (500lbs)
3. When kneeling tracked "legs" travel over rubble. Switches to wheels on smooth surfaces
4. Dynamic Balance Behaviour (DBB) technology allows the robot to stand and carry loads upright on its ankles, knees or hips for nearly an hour
It is also narrow enough to squeeze through doorways, but can lift 135kg with its hydraulic arms in a single smooth movement, to avoid causing pain to wounded soldiers.
While the existing prototype slides its arms under its burden like a forklift, future versions will be fitted with manoeuvrable hands to gently scoop up casualties.
The Bear is controlled remotely and has cameras and microphones through which an operator sees and hears.
It can even tackle stairs while carrying a human-sized dummy.
Daniel Theobald, the president of Vecna Technologies, which is developing the robot for the US Army, said: "We saw a need for a robot that can essentially go where a human can. The robot will be an integral part of a military team."
Gary Gilbert, from the US Army's Telemedicine and Advanced Technology Research Centre in Frederick, Maryland, said that the teddy bear appearance was deliberate.
"A really important thing when you're dealing with casualties is trying to maintain that human touch."
Vecna is working on other potential applications for the robot technology - including helping move heavy patients in hospitals.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/6729745.stm -
This is freaky...imagine u're wounded in a street corner, at night. You see this figure approaching you with a bearish lookin head...i think you would empty whatever rounds you have at it man
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been out for half a year already
us bears aren't just for hibernating -
what if the computer program got some problems and carries the injured to the enemies instead?
qpl1 -
wad if they carry the ammunition to the enemies instead
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erm i don't know about others, but if i see a machine with a bear head going towards me when i'm injured, i'll probably start screaming and shooting the bugger
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And you don't have to feed Yogi with any picnic baskets either! Hurrah!
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I would go "WTF!" and fire at UWO.Originally posted by hisoka:erm i don't know about others, but if i see a machine with a bear head going towards me when i'm injured, i'll probably start screaming and shooting the bugger -
soldier: medivac! medivac!
bear: roaaar!
soldier: what the ..... please dont eat me! -
I don't know about you guys but a robot with a bearish head does sounds and i suppose will appear weird! Like your worse nightmare flashing infront your eyes before you die sort of thing.
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i dunno.. this bear is comfortable with it
more than that.. coz this bear is also a combat medic in the army -
Lol, it's just like the Bontakun from Full Metal Panic.
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Originally posted by SingaporeMacross:Lol, it's just like the Bontakun from Full Metal Panic.
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Tell me you feel at ease seeing that stupid looking head. They can make it look like cyclops or something with red shiny eyes. Who gives a fcuk about how it looks when they're in pain?
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lol...
the bear maybe to ease u ma.. instead of seeing like those cyclops model. Or like the T-800 like that... freak me out la.. i need to see a warm friendly bear faced smile.. cause i may die halfway to the medivac. -
what if hunters thought that it was a real bear from far?
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If it had the face of yogi bear, maybe I'll laugh to death.
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Try winnie the pooh...Originally posted by ditzy:If it had the face of yogi bear, maybe I'll laugh to death. -
The bear may save lives... but for some of the more macho, they may require expensive sessions with psychologists to get over the shame of being rescued by a teddy bear.
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what if they got saved by me?
i'm a combat medic you know? -
Originally posted by ditzy:If it had the face of yogi bear, maybe I'll laugh to death.
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i understand why they use bears to make soldiers feel at ease.. BUT THAT FACE just cant cut it!
Imagine at night this bear comes to you at 6ft tall its quite a huge machine. with that face i'll probably go AHHHH!!!! -
holy shi
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Originally posted by the.owl:holy shi
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let hope that there a time bomb insideOriginally posted by corebooster:wad if they carry the ammunition to the enemies instead