Robots Remove UXO From Training Ranges

[unhappycamper]

Robots Remove UXO From Training Ranges
February 20, 2009
Army News Service|by Lindy Kyzer

WASHINGTON - Robotic technologies were used to detect and remove unexploded ordnance from training ranges at Fort Bliss, Texas, in a demonstration sponsored by the U.S. Army Environmental Command.

Experts from the Army's Environmental Command joined bloggers for a special roundtable discussion on how the demonstration went and how robotics could improve safety, efficiency, and provide cost-savings in UXO removal.

"There's two things that we're doing," said Kimberly Watts of the Environmental Command. "We wanted to demonstrate to make sure that the equipment was actually working the way we were hoping that it would. It did. Yes, definitely for smaller areas. Yes, we need to scale up for the larger areas, larger ranges, but, you know, there are applications for it right now."

The command evaluated two basic robotics systems the Air Force Research Lab has developed: the All-Purpose Remote Transport System, or ARTS, and the Automated Ordnance Excavator, known as AOE.

The systems are remotely operated with attachments that can be added to aid with brush removal and extraction, said Gene Fabian, Range Sustainment Program Manager, U.S. Army Aberdeen Test Center.


Rest of article at: http://www.military.com/news/article/army-news/robots-remove-uxo-from-training-ranges.html?col=1186032369115