Image credit – UK Ministry of Defense
Robots used to diffuse and dispose of bombs aren’t new and have been used by law enforcement agencies around the world for years. However it seems that over in the UK, the British Army has recently received a handful of bomb disposal robots that come with upgraded features, such as haptic feedback.
What does the haptic feedback mean for the operator? Given that bomb disposal requires a fair amount of finesse and dexterity, having haptic feedback in the controllers of the robot means that the operator can “feel” what they are doing. According to the UK’s Ministry of Defense, “The haptic feedback function is designed to provide operators with human-like dexterity while they operate the robot’s arm using the remote-control handgrip. The unit gives the operator physical feedback, allowing intuitive detailed control.”
So far it appears that these robots have managed to survive the eight-week trial that they were put through, which included a variety of battlefield missions, weightlifting, dexterity tests, along with climatic and vibration testing. They were also put through situations that tested their high stress capabilities, live firings, and so on.
According to Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson, “These robots will go on to be an essential piece of kit, preventing harm to innocent civilians and the brave operators who make explosives safe. The robots will provide the Army with the latest bomb-disposal technology and will prove to be trusted companions both on UK streets and in deadly conflict zones.”
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