Designed with keeping human personnel out of danger in mind, iRobot have unveiled their latest device to tackle fragile situations with direct contact, but at more than an arms length away.
The “Negotiator” is a remotely controlled machine that has hostage takers firmly in its sights, it could approach the offender, and by using its day and night camera together with two-way audio system let the authorities hear, speak and eyeball the perpetrator whilst assessing the area around it should further action be needed from a human force.
Its ability to enter tunnels or unsafe structures could make it very useful in hostile environments and with a range of accessories available including flippers to climb stairs, infrared vision and a chemical gas detector this budget end piece of military hardware should be a major success.
The standard Negotiator costs up to $20,000, more than its stablemate Roomba the household sweeper but a fraction of the cost of most military robot machines.
Via Boston Globe
