Bear robot {someday in future} rescues wounded troops (BBC)

[eppur_se_muova]

The US military is developing a robot with a teddy bear-style head to help carry injured soldiers away from the battlefield.

The Battlefield Extraction Assist Robot (BEAR) can scoop up even the heaviest of casualties and transport them over long distances over rough terrain.

New Scientist magazine reports that the "friendly appearance" of the robot is designed to put the wounded at ease.

It is expected to be ready for testing within five years.

While it is important to get medical attention for injured soldiers as soon as possible, it is often difficult and dangerous for their comrades to reach them and carry them back.


***
more: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/6729745.stm

If the bear can carry a wounded soldier, it can carry an M16. Send the bear in, leave the soldiers out.

[EstimatedProphet]

1. Did we learn nothing from Terminator 3?

[meegbear]

2. "Teddy bear face designed to be reassuring"

Awwwwww.

[YOY]

6. and with your sucking chestwound blaring pain and your severed limb squirting blood on its face

I am sure the BEAR will look more like this :

[dflprincess]

9. How can the face of a Godless killing machine be reassuring?

:rofl:

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

3. Stephen Colbert's gonna have a field day.

[JackintheGreen]

4. Then we could ALL play Ender's Game

If we don't *see* our victims, how can we feel pity for them or disgust at ourselves?

[gatorboy]

5. I am not put at ease with Teddy Bears.

A robot with the face of Scarlett Johanson? NOW we're talkin'.

[Caoimhe]

7. Pretty nifty idea

I love seeing applications for robotics like this. Not sure how reassuring that head is, but i guess if you are lying stranded and wounded, anything would be reassuring compared to the alternative. Using it to move heavy patients in hospitals is also an interesting application. Perhaps this could also be used in rescue situations involving other hazards like fire, hazardous material, confined space, fall rescues, etc where putting another person's life in danger to retrieve someone is so risky.

[frylock]

8. picture of prototype..

[gatorboy]

10. "I NEED A JUG BAND, STAT!!!"