RoboticsHazardous-devices teams compete at the Robot Rodeo, 14-17 June

Published 13 June 2016

Hazardous-devices teams from around the Southwest will wrangle their bomb-squad robots at the tenth annual Robot Rodeo beginning Tuesday, 14 June, at Los Alamos National Laboratory. “The Robot Rodeo gives bomb-squad teams the opportunity to practice and hone their skills in a lively but low-risk setting,” said a member of the Laboratory’s hazardous-devices team.

An entry in a previous rodeo // Source: sandia.gov

Hazardous-devices teams from around the Southwest will wrangle their bomb-squad robots at the tenth annual Robot Rodeo beginning Tuesday, 14 June, at Los Alamos National Laboratory.

“The Robot Rodeo gives bomb-squad teams the opportunity to practice and hone their skills in a lively but low-risk setting,” said Chris Ory of the Emergency Response Group at Los Alamos and a member the Laboratory’s hazardous-devices team. Los Alamos’ participation and support of the Robot Rodeo also aligns with its goal of fostering excellence in science and engineering disciplines essential for national security missions.

LANL notes that the event begins at 8 a.m. in Technical Area 49, a remote section of Laboratory property near the entrance to Bandelier National Monument. Ten teamsare scheduled to participate in the three-day competition. Teams compete in events and simulations, such as:

  • Rendering safe terrorist-type devices.
  • Recovering stolen radioactive materials.
  • Navigating obstacle courses.
  • Investigating a possible homemade-explosives lab.
  • Operating in confined spaces such as aircraft or railcars.
  • Using common hand tools to disable a device.
  • Attacking and rendering safe large vehicle bombs.
  • Dealing with suicide bombers.

Teams scheduled to participate in this year’s event include Albuquerque Police Department; Doña Ana County Sheriff’s Office; Farmington Police Department; Los Alamos Police Department; Military Explosive Ordnance Disposal teams from Kirtland AFB, Holloman AFB, Davis-Monthan AFB and Fort Carson; New Mexico State Police. and a Southern California Regional Team.

The Laboratory, Sandia National Laboratories, the Region II International Association of Bomb Technicians and Investigators, REMOTEC, WMD Tech and NABCO sponsor the Robot Rodeo.

Watch a video of the 2012 Robot Rodeo at Los Alamos National Laboratory.