Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Robot Mine Smasher

Posted by Hemos on from the crack-smash-bushwhack dept.

A reader writes " Robotsotre had a link to a Japanese story about a new landmine-hunting robot that covers the mine with a protective dome and then smashes it with a high-velocity hydraulic piston. The company's called Cos Co, the robot is 3.5m long, and the cost about $75K (USD). Robot mine hunter does job quietly http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/newse/20020213wo71.htm Not that I know much about landmines, but does this mean the detonator cap is smashed without detonating? Or separated from the explosives before it can?" As this article also points out, this will help remove mines in Afghanistan, which after 20 years of war has more then a few around.

5 of 199 comments (clear)

  1. Another job for... by gTsiros · · Score: 5, Funny

    ...lego mindstorms!!!

    forget the robotic lego rubik cube solver! This is the REAL DEAL!

    Imagine small khaki-colored legos going into actual battle.

    -the lego death squad

    EAT BRICKS YOU SOBs!!!

    --
    Looking for people to chat about multicopters, coding, music. skype: gtsiros
    1. Re:Another job for... by Gid1 · · Score: 5, Funny

      I can't remember who, but someone suggested killing two birds with one stone: when the British government is slaughtering herds/flocks/whatever of cows/sheep/whatever for possibility of BSE/Foot-n-Mouth/whatever, just get them to send the animals to graze in a minefield, instead =)

    2. Re:Another job for... by shut_up_man · · Score: 2, Funny
      It's a card game from Cheapass Games called Unexploded Cow

      From the site:
      You and your friends have discovered two problems with a common solution: Mad Cows in England and Unexploded Bombs in France. You've decided to bring these two powderkegs together just to see what happens. And you wouldn't say "no" to a little money on the side. So round up your herd, march them through France, and set them loose behind the Cordon Rouge. If you're lucky you'll come home rich before Greenpeace gets hold of you. Either way, there's something magical about blowing up cows.
      Heheheh...
  2. Lego = Perfect by isaac_akira · · Score: 5, Funny

    Everytime the bot gets blown up they can just snap it back together.

    Though in solving the problem of stepping on landminds you will be CAUSING the problem of stepping on Lego pieces while walking barefoot through the fields at night. "Ouch!! Goddammit!!!"

  3. Re:Kewl! by haffi · · Score: 2, Funny

    I comes with its own librarian.