New Bomb Disposal Robot to Neutralize Car Bombs

New Bomb Disposal Robot to Neutralize Car Bombs

bomb disposal robot

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A new bomb disposal and tactical robot was launched recently. The Avenger Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) robot has been engineered to provide police and military response teams with enhanced capabilities to manage ongoing and emerging threats posed by terrorists, particularly in urban environments where car bombs (Vehicle-Borne Improvised Explosive Devices, VBIEDS) are of concern.

The robot was launched at the 2017 SHOT (Shooting, Hunting, Outdoor Trade) Show. Designed and manufactured by ICP NewTech, the robot is a mid-sized ROV with most of the operational capabilities typically found only in much larger and more expensive robots, according to safariland.com.

The Avenger’s highly dextrous arm and claw can easily reach inside, above and below cars, pick-up trucks and delivery vans, to remotely investigate suspicious devices, such as Improvised Explosive Devices (IED).

The system includes an on-board computer that fuses data from multiple Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear & Explosive (CBRNE) sensors and cameras, and relays it to a command post. This integrated sensor suite provides a mission-critical tool for managing CBRNE and Hazmat threats, such as a terrorist’s ‘dirty bomb’, and mitigating risks to the surrounding public. The numerous sensor ports are compatible with many specialized sensors that bomb squads already have, so they can make use of their existing equipment and attach new tools in the future.

In announcing this new urban response tool, The Safariland Group President Scott O’Brien said “the safety of first responders, elite military EOD teams and local citizens is of utmost importance to Safariland and this new system will prove to be an integral part of securing densely populated areas across the United States and the international community.”

Eamon Jackson, CEO of ICP NewTech, commented, “We listened very carefully to the needs of end users and recognized the operational challenges they’re facing now and in the foreseeable future. It became clear that response teams needed a robotic platform that could be easily transported through congested urban centers, which meant keeping the robot at a smaller scale. We then applied our engineering expertise to develop a system that could attack a range of VBIED-type threats, overcome obstacles, and give users the freedom to deploy and leverage many of their existing sensors and EOD tools.”

The Safariland Group is a leading global provider of a broad range of safety and survivability products designed for the public safety, military, professional and outdoor markets.