More Robots Being Sent To Afghanistan To Defeat Roadside Bombs

The number of portable robots deployed in Afghanistan is set to increase with the British Ministry of Defence ordering devices that can operate in caves, courtyards and which can help dismantle Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs).

Defenceweb reports the lightweight, tracked and manipulator arm-equipped Dragon Runner can be carried in a soldier’s backpack as it weighs no more than 20 kilograms (45 pounds). The UN says about 200,000 people have been disabled by landmines and similar devices in Afghanistan, so the robots will be particularly useful there. The Dragon Runner can pick up visual and audio signals, as well as send back video images to soldiers, allowing them to accurately assess the safety of a house or a cave, for instance. A spokesperson for the manufacturer, QinetiQ’s Mary Carver said most of the robots are being used to disable roadside IED bombs, which have caused so much damage to troops of the US-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan. Meanwhile, information contained in a USA Today report said the percentage of casualties to coalition forces from IEDs was up by 25 percent compared to two years ago. In 2007, these homemade hollow charge bombs caused half of the injuries to ISAF troops, whereas today they make up 75 percent. The report said US Defence Secretary Robert Gates wanted to speed up the delivery of Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles. The increase in MRAPs and robot ”helpers” will hopefully cut casualty rates.