Sandia Displayed Mine Rescue Robot at 2013 DARPA Robotics Challenge

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Engineers from Sandia National Laboratories in the U.S demonstrated real-world robotics successes at the DARPA Robotics Challenge Trials 2013 Expo this week (20-21 December) in Florida. The challenge is focused on human-scaled robots that assist in humanitarian aid and disaster response. Both the Robotics Challenge Trials and the Expo are open to the public, especially students, to encourage interest in science, technology, engineering and math.

Sandia engineers demonstrated the Gemini Scout Mine Rescue Robot, which was designed to overcome dangers lurking in a mining accident: poisonous gases, flooded tunnels, explosive vapors, and unstable walls and roofs. Such potentially deadly conditions and unknown obstacles can slow rescue efforts to a frustrating pace.

iHLS – Israel Homeland Security

According to HLS News Wire the Gemini Scout system eliminates some of the unknowns and arms first responders with critical information. Less than 4 feet long and 2 feet tall, Gemini-Scout is nimble enough to navigate around tight corners and through 18 inches of water, crawl over boulders and rubble piles and move in ahead of rescuers to evaluate hazardous environments and help plan operations. In addition to giving rescuers an idea of where they’re headed, the robotic scout can haul food, air packs and medicine to those trapped underground. It is equipped with two-way radios and can even be configured to drag survivors to safety.

The lifelike, cost-effective, robotic Sandia Hand, developed in 2012 to disable improvised explosive devices, was also displayed.