Human-like Robotic Hands a Game Changer for EOD Bomb Technicians

CTTSO / NASA – On 21 May, via the Irregular Warfare Technical Support Directorate (IWTSD), Dr. Joshua Mehling, Technical Discipline Lead for Robotic Control at NASA’s JSC said: "Humanoid robots have the potential to drastically change the way we perform remote operations, because by their very nature, they are designed to interact with the same tools, and interfaces that humans do, move through the same spaces, and work in the same environments. CTTSO immediately saw the impact that NASA's humanoid technology could have in the EOD space. Human-like robotic hands are a game-changer for interacting with the world, not only manipulating common objects and potential threats, but the robot can easily leverage existing EOD tools and equipment designed for the bomb technician...Our initial work with CTTSO is really just the beginning. As we continue to push this technology forward out into the field, and into the hands of bomb techs, we will begin to realize enormous operational benefits, and that's how we'll address the challenges and mitigate the threats of today and tomorrow." Watch a video of developmental work on NASA humanoid and grasping hand technology here.

The Combating Terrorism Technical Support Office (CTTSO) was established in 1999 by the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations/Low-Intensity Conflict (ASD(SO/LIC))  to consolidate its research and development programs.

Our thanks to Robin E. Alexander, President ATC, alexander technical[at]gmail[dot]com, for her assistance with this report, which is a pre-release update to the next edition of the UNMANNED SYSTEMS NEWS (USN).

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