| From robotic construction trucks to robotic submarines, | | | | technology is capturing never-before-seen images of |
| the world of robotic vehicles is being employed to | | | | deep sea beds with the Synthetic Aperture Sonar. |
| revolutionize our lives. Traditionally associated with the | | | | Farmers use these vehicles to check on their crops. |
| military, robotic planes, submarines, tanks, trucks, cars, | | | | Forest rangers count trees and monitor wildlife in |
| mechanical bugs and other types of mobile robots are | | | | remote regions of their parks. Surface water vehicles |
| being developed for civilian use as well. Futuristic | | | | are skimming the coasts, while underwater devices |
| advancements are no longer a matter of "How," but | | | | are recovering old shipwrecks and AWOL lobster |
| more so a matter of "When," as to when the | | | | traps that have fallen loose, thus threatening |
| technology will be affordable enough for average | | | | endangered marine animals. |
| citizens. | | | | You may not know it, but automated guided vehicles |
| "The good thing about this system is you don't have to | | | | (AGVs) are transporting materials all around |
| send a marine out and risk that life," Captain James | | | | warehouses and hospitals at this very moment. The |
| Lee said of his bomb-disassembling and | | | | early robotic vehicles were easy to make, researchers |
| reconnaissance mission robotic vehicles. The machines | | | | say, but they were fairly limited in their paths and found |
| may cost $100,000 a piece, but they're fairly durable, | | | | it difficult to adapt to changes in their environments. |
| especially considering that duct tape and common | | | | The interim robotics automation could scan bar code |
| materials can be used to patch them. | | | | grid lines on the floor or use laser technology to |
| The Packbot Scout Robot (developed by Robotic | | | | maneuver around, although tall obstacles still blocked |
| Systems JPO) quickly takes apart a bomb, saving an | | | | the way and routine maintenance was high. New |
| entire Humvee full of soldiers. The Dragon Eye and | | | | robotic vehicles are trained to circumnavigate around |
| Raven B unmanned aircraft patrols the battlefields, | | | | any obstacle, whether it is a pallet or a person. |
| even in adverse weather conditions. | | | | They use 3-D scanners, maps and other complex |
| The Stalker (developed by Lockheed Martin) is | | | | systems. In the future, people are expected to work |
| especially keen for silent night operations, while the | | | | alongside robots much more frequently. |
| Golden Eye can hover for three hours, assessing the | | | | Educate yourself about the robotic vehicles from Mike |
| scene. The unmanned Predator drone is one of the | | | | Selvon portal. We appreciate your feedback and |
| most highly-touted autonomous robots used by the US | | | | welcome your comments at our robotics technology |
| military today. Civilian robotic vehicles are also being | | | | blog where a free audio gift awaits you. |
| developed for a number of uses. Sonar robotics | | | | |