Snakelike Robot To Treat Soldiers During Battle

Al writes "Technology Review has an article about a snake-like robotic arm that could soon be used to treat injured soldiers as they lie on the battlefield. Developed by researchers at Carnegie Mellon University, the snakebot attaches to a stretcher and is controlled remotely using a joystick, allowing a doctor to assess a soldier's injuries as the bullets fly by. In future, the robotic arm will be fitted with sensors allowing it to measure vital signs and probe for internal bleeding. Here's a brief video of a prototype arm in action. The arm will become part of the US military's high-tech stretcher, called the Life Support for Trauma and Transport system. This is essentially a portable intensive-care unit, with a ventilator, defibrillator, and other physiological monitors, and it's currently being used in areas of Iraq and Afghanistan."

Comments

Press 1 for gunshot, press 2 for IED..

[Anonymous Coward]

When I've been shot in a combat zone, the first thing I want to see is a nice, reassuring ROBOT SNAKE to tend my wounds.

Re:Press 1 for gunshot, press 2 for IED..

[Clandestine_Blaze]

Don't worry, the enemy will soon deploy ROBOT clones of Samuel L. Jackson to deal with the snake problem... ;)

Re:thats nice.

[Cowmonaut]

High latency is really going to get you killed now...

Has to be said...

[rwalker429]

"Pleassssse ssstate the nature of the medical emergency."

Re:It's all in the software

[Hurricane78]

I managed to get a hold on the actual source code. Here's a sample:

Sss (sss, sssSSS, sS, sSS):
    S.SS = s[S].s SSss * sssss / S(SSs) + sSSSs
    SsS (S s s.sss):
        sS(sss, ssS, Ss)
        SSS.SS.S(sSs.SS)
    SS && ssssssssss(SSSS)

S (sS):
  Sss.SssSSS()
  sSS(SSS)
s

Does anyone here speak python?