BEAR robot rescues wounded troops

The U.S. military reserachers have developed a robot called "The Battlefield Extraction Assist Robot" (BEAR) that can carry injured soldiers and casualties over long distances and take them to safety quickly.

The US military is developing a robot with a teddy bear-style head to help carry injured soldiers away from the battlefield. The robot is called “The Battlefield Extraction Assist Robot”, BEAR. It can scoop up the casualties and injured personnel and transport them over long distances and over rough terrain, where vehicles or soldiers can’t go near them. BEAR has a simpler face as shown in the pictures to make them friendly looking to the wounded soldiers. The US military said it will be ready for testing within the next five years. This robot is necessary because the wounded soldiers need immediate medical attention and when it is also dangerous for the soldiers to reach them and carry them back to safety. The BEAR is 6 foot tall and is capable of crossing bumpy ground without toppling over, thanks to a combination of gyroscopes and computer controlled motors to maintain proper balance. It is also narrow enough to squeeze through doorways, but can lift 135kg with its hydraulic arms in a single smooth movement, to avoid causing pain to wounded soldiers. Robot carries dummy - annotated with details 1. Teddy bear face designed to be reassuring 2. Hydraulic upper body carries up to 227kgs (500lbs) 3. When kneeling tracked "legs" travel over rubble. Switches to wheels on smooth surfaces 4. Dynamic Balance Behavior (DBB) technology allows the robot to stand and carry loads upright on its ankles, knees or hips for nearly an hour The BEAR prototype model slides its arms under its burden like a forklift, but the future version will be fitted with maneuverable hands to gently scoop up the wounded and the casualties. BEAR operates via a remote control and has cameras and microphones through which an operator can see it and hear the surroundings. They claim the BEAR can climb up stairs even while carrying a human sized dummy. Daniel Theobald, the president of Vecna Technologies, which is developing the robot for the US Army, said:

"We saw a need for a robot that can essentially go where a human can. The robot will be an integral part of a military team."

Vecna Technologies is trying to find other potential applications for this robot technology, including helping move heavy patients in hospital. It can also be used to haul debris from a site that gives off dangerous chemicals. If the BEAR is a fire retardant one, it can also be used for fire fighting purposes.