The drones come out at Boston's RoboBusiness 2007

Published 17 May 2007

Vecna puts its BEAR rescue robot up against the iRobot Warrior; battlefield extraction technology has domestic cross-over possibilities

We were too busy preparing for next week’s 2007 Homeland Security S&T Stakeholders Conference Agenda to make it out to Boston for the RoboBusiness 2007 trade show, but fortunately Hiawatha Bray of the Boston Globe was there to brief us about the latest in military robotics. Leading the way, Bray reports, was the humanoid Battlefield Extraction-Assist Robot (BEAR) offered by College Park, Maryland-based Vecna Technologies. “It’s designed to get casualties out of harm’s way,” said the company’s Jonathan Klein, “whether it’s battlefield casualties, a natural disaster, a terrorist attack, whatever.” Propelling itself with a combination of rubber tires and treads, the BEAR sports flat paddles for hands, allowing it to bend over and scoop up a comatose victim, so long as they weigh less than 350 pounds. It might also have applications in the home health care market. “A version of this should be in your house … helping you get to the bathroom, helping you get your clothes on,” Klein said.

Also in the game is [u]iRobot[/u], which showed off its new Warrior robot — a giant, $250,000 version of its well-known PackBots. Featuring a robotic arm, the prototype shown is capable of lifting 100 pounds of artillery shells and disabling other explosives. Key to the Warrior’s future, however, are the extra features that can be bolted onto the robot’s flat top. Not all are ready for prime time, but the company seems to be thinking in the right direction. One such accessory combines a tiltable platform with a conveyor belt. Guided by remote control, “the Warrior could drive over to a fallen soldier, roll him onto the belt, then drive the soldier to safety. IRobot hopes to include a retractable Kevlar shield to protect the soldier during the trip.”