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BY TOM RISEN
Medill News Service | Friday, November 17, 2006 | (No comments posted.)
Robocop has come to town to keep safe the streets of the Windy City, and he's packing -- a water cannon.
On Thursday, the city unveiled its newest defensive weapon: three remote-controlled bomb robots. Similar to devices used in the Iraq war, the 350-pound, $135,000 robots are capable of disarming certain kinds of bombs with their giant, extendable arms and high-pressure water cannons.
Mayor Richard M. Daley, Police Superintendent Philip J. Cline and Bomb and Arson Sgt. Mike Gerhardstein were on hand to demonstrate the robots at Navy Pier.
"If a bomb does explode, I'd much rather lose a $135,000 robot than lose the lives of a police officer, bystander or any first responder," said Daley. "We hope we seldom ever have to use these machines. But they're an unfortunate necessity in today's world, and we're committed to using the best technology available."
Cline cited many uses for the robot, from making deliveries in a hostage situation, investigating a booby-trapped meth lab or simply detecting hazardous materials on public buses and trains with its X-ray or chemical sensors.
"Basically it will allow the officers to do some hazardous jobs from a safe distance," said Cline.
The robots come fully loaded. Each can lift 300 pounds with its adjustable arm, has four cameras, X-ray vision, night vision, chemical sensors, two sets of tread wheels, a speaker and microphone for the bomb squad controller and a high-powered water cannon. Bomb squad officers control the robot by a wireless remote.
Gerhardstein said all 18 bomb squad officers will be trained to operate the robot.
The device is made by Remotec, a subsidiary of Northrup Grumman, who build bomb robots for the U.S. Military.
The Police Bomb and Arson squad already has two older bomb robots and a surveillance robot. The Fire Department plans to buy one of the new robots in January, so by 2007 Chicago will have seven bomb robots--a robot army fit for an Olympic city.
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