Page 29 - Robots Androids and Animatrons : 12 Incredible Projects You Can Build
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Hazardous duty
Without risking human life or limb, robots can replace humans in
some hazardous duty service (see Fig. 1.3). Take for example
bomb disposal. Robots are used in many bomb squads across the
nation. Typically these robots resemble small armored tanks and
are guided remotely by personnel using video cameras (basic
telepresence system) attached to the front of the robot. Robotic
arms can grab a suspected bomb and place it in an explosion-proof
safe box for detonation and/or disposal.
Similar robots can help clean up toxic waste. Robots can work in
all types of polluted environments, chemical as well as nuclear.
They can work in environments so hazardous that an unprotected
human would quickly die. The nuclear industry was the first to
develop and use robotic arms for handling radioactive materials.
Robotic arms allowed scientists to be located in clean, safe rooms
operating controls for the robotic arms located in radioactive
rooms.
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1.3 Hazbot. Photo courtesy of NASA
Team LRN
Chapter one
