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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."

6 of 130 comments (clear)

  1. thats nice. by gandhi_2 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    between the chair force in Nevada and now the medics with joysticks, everyone but the Infantry can finally be safe!

    1. Re:thats nice. by Cowmonaut · · Score: 5, Funny

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

  2. Press 1 for gunshot, press 2 for IED.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    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.

    1. Re:Press 1 for gunshot, press 2 for IED.. by Clandestine_Blaze · · Score: 5, Funny

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

  3. Has to be said... by rwalker429 · · Score: 5, Funny

    "Pleassssse ssstate the nature of the medical emergency."

  4. Re:It's all in the software by Hurricane78 · · Score: 5, Funny

    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?

    --
    Any sufficiently advanced intelligence is indistinguishable from stupidity.