UAS for bomb squads – it’s here

UAS for bomb squads – it’s here

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AirRobotnorBomb squad robots have been using ground robots for many years to handle suspicious objects.

Now a U.S robot manufacturer is taking its business to the sky by sealing a deal to sell drones.

Remotec in Clinton, a subsidiary of Northrop Grumman, signed a deal to become the sole U.S. seller of AirRobot’s unmanned helicopter aircraft to law enforcement and emergency first responders. AirRobot, based in Germany, approached Remotec due to the Tennessee company’s dominant grip on the bomb squad market in the United States.

“We have 90 percent of the robots used by state and local law enforcement. Our ground robots are used in any type of hostage situation, bomb situations, SWAT, and hazardous materials,” said Chuck Beck, head of manufacturing for Remotec. “What we do here saves lives. With the AirRobot, you can send a drone out to basically survey an area. Putting those two together, you have additional capabilities that you don’t have currently.” He was quoted on WBIR.

Remotec will not only sell the AirRobot aircraft. Its workers will provide training, maintenance, and repairs for AirRobot aircraft in the United States.

Company sources explained that currently the robot operator is basically looking through a “soda straw”  as he’s driving the robot. The air component, they said, means they can survey to see who else is in the area, what the area around it looks like, are there other vehicles or other people. So he knows how to better respond to the situation.

Remotec said while the drones and robots are currently stand-alone products, they may work to create new radio controllers that can operate both the aircraft and ground-based robots.