If we have to go by movies, a SWAT officer’s job is cool. In reality, it is anything but ‘cool’!The team has to live on the razor’s edge, with potential dangers lurking around every corner. They carry the most sophisticated ammunition and yet, survival is a matter of chance. A surveillance robot, therefore, tilts the odds in favor of these fearless emergency response personnel. The iRobot Negotiator 200 is the latest entrant into this elite club of tactical reconnaissance robots. Remote-controlled, the robot can climb/descend a flight of stairs stealthily and capture vital ‘on the scene’ data with the help of its hi-res color video camera. It also incorporates a chemical detection system that helps tactical teams to identify the presence of any hazardous material. Weighing just 34 lbs, it has been designed to help SWAT/Bomb squads to evaluate suspicious vehicles, buildings, etc. from a safe distance and move in once the scene is ‘clear’.
The iRobot Negotiator 200 has flippers that help in climbing stairs. It runs on two Ni-MH batteries that last anywhere between 3 to 6 hrs. And, this depends on how much load the robot is carrying. It can be fitted with a pan/tilt day or night camera, a low-light infrared camera, a rear-mounted day or night camera, a flood light system as well as a MultiRAE Plus gas monitor detection system.The captured video is transmitted through a 2.4GHz band. The robot, on the other hand, is controlled over the 900MHz frequency band.
The Negotiator 200 has been built specially for local, state and federal agencies for robotic assistance in civil response operations. Pricing details are awaited for the robot, which is expected to hit the market during Q4 2008.
Via:Electronista
