When people think of robots, they often think of manufacturers or sci-fi movies. Handling explosives is a less-publicized use for this technology, but robotic aids make industries dealing with these dangerous devices much safer. Are machines capable of doing so without being blown to bits? Discover the medley of ways robotics and artificial intelligence experts are deploying bots to handle bombs.
1. Explosive Disposal
Many may be surprised at the number of industries using explosives. They include the following:
- Military
- Automotive
- Entertainment
- Aerospace
- Forestry
- Mining
- Construction
This means many sectors need secure explosive disposal robots. These machines are responsible for finding, disarming and carrying bombs and other combustibles to a place where they can be destroyed and disposed of safely.
A robot can handle devices that could detonate with the help of wireless communications and a trained professional. If there is an unexpected threat, these machines can hear and see environmental changes to react according to programmed emergency protocol.
2. Demining
Clearing land mines doesn’t have to be a human’s job anymore. Robots can go onto dangerous lands and make devices go inert without risking people’s lives. They can also take care of unexploded or volatile ordnance for workers who may be present in the area. Robots can power these machines down, remove ammunition or transport them to a safer location for analysis.
3. Explosive Detection
Engineers and robotic designers may embed sensors and other detection systems into robots so they can spot bombs. They can use multiple image processing tools, scanning systems and cameras to pinpoint explosives in luggage, cars and more. The military sector is the most obvious industry to bank on this advantage, as it protects troops no matter where
they are. It’s more sensible to send a robot into unknown territory than risk a life.
Explosive material identification is crucial for robotic mine clearance vehicles, which survey areas during or after a conflict. Industries looking to repurpose or rehabilitate the land must know its stability and composition, and these robotic cars are perfect for that.
4. Remote Handling
Remote operations are the most significant benefit of robotics in the explosives industry. This ability makes one of the most treacherous professions on the planet safer. Robots are skilled at expertly navigating rough terrain, which may be hazardous in more ways than being combustible.
This makes robots extremely versatile. They are quick to deploy, and computer vision makes it easy to see streets, fields or homes. Law enforcement and emergency responders appreciate a robot’s accessibility and speed when scoping a dwelling with a potential homemade bomb or executing tactical plans. Robots also help during disaster response by finding survivors of an attack, earthquake or flood.
5. Explosive Dismantling
Sectors won’t replace humans with robots, but it makes sense to put them in charge of neutralizing bombs and explosive devices instead of people. Robots can snip wires, use disruptors or pour water on contents, depending on the type of combustible material. They can identify components and deploy the correct strategy without making a costly mistake.
6. Making Explosives
Laboratory and manufacturing environments can find numerous ways to employ a robot to make bombs and other explosives. Robotic arms, cameras and sensors become more precise every day, identifying defective parts and testing for quality. They can rapidly assemble materials in areas without human intervention until they’re safe enough for people to interact with them.
It makes production operations more compliant with safety standards and improves workers’ well-being. Peace of mind skyrockets when employees don’t feel their lives are at stake every time they show up for work. Companies benefit from this boost with reduced absenteeism and turnover, making operations more consistent and profitable.
7. Storing Explosives
Leaving explosives to rest on shelves may incite an out-of-sight, out-of-mind mentality. However, they need oversight and care like any other storage facility items. Robots serve a multitude of purposes in this area, including environmental monitoring. Combustibles are sensitive to temperature and conditional changes, and robots can send notifications to businesses to ensure they know when something is awry.
Additionally, robots can track inventory. They can record images and metadata about each explosive, its quantity in storage, its location and whose responsibility it’s currently under. Thanks to these scanning and tracking capabilities, tracing sensitive materials has never been easier.
8. Testing Effectiveness and Safety
Robots can do more than store and disarm an explosive. They are also invaluable for research and data collection purposes. Manufactured products must be assessed for quality and safety. Their effectiveness may also need to be tested on the field, which can happen in a controlled environment without a human actor.
9. Explosive Transportation
Assembling an explosive is one safety risk. Transporting it is another. One bumpy ride could cause a catastrophic butterfly effect of incidents, and organizations want to prevent this at all costs. This is why robots should move explosives, whether to a work zone or into warehousing.
Autonomous guided vehicles that follow programmed paths are ideal for manufacturing environments. Devices carrying the combustible item can have built-in sensors and an emergency protocol if the explosive’s integrity gets compromised. In the field, it’s faster and more stress-free to have them delivered to the necessary site than to do so manually.
Explosives may also need to be transported on aircraft. Shippers identify the HAZMAT class, which determines how it needs to be packed. Robots could handle this, using programmed standards from ICAO and IATA to guide the process so it’s ready for a cargo plane.
10. Standard and Drone-Based Observation
Robots can have basic or advanced visual capabilities, depending on cameras, sensors and algorithms. They can build maps of potentially dangerous environments, surveying and marking areas where threats may be. They can also enter tighter spaces, providing more comprehensive information if humans can’t reach certain areas.
This also applies to drones, which extend the line of sight for locating explosives. Bomb squads could use this before a job, assigning expectations to the force. This means they can pack the right gear and more confidently control the situation. It can also advance intelligence gathering, executing quicker and more thorough investigations without alerting unwanted parties.
11. Underwater and Subterranean Applications
Taking explosives underwater is even more dangerous than moving them on land. Biodiversity is at risk, and one mishap could leave operators struggling for air. Remotely operated robots are built to endure high pressures and cold temperatures, becoming the ideal courier for setting up combustibles underwater.
Advanced robotics can scan the regions where they will work, sending analytics back to technicians. Germany has issued robots to investigate the North and Baltic Seas for lingering weaponry from World War II. This allows humans to make informed decisions about underwater operations without the conventional risk profile.
Robots can also replace humans in other environments. Cave systems, tunnels, and other dry underground structures are potential cave-in or avalanche sites if people mishandle explosives.
12. Simulations
Robots are compatible with countless other technologies, including virtual and augmented reality. Combining robots with these resources to train employees can provide the most hands-on experiences in history. Many workers need upskilling to adapt to digitization and robotics integration. Simulated training environments are a tactile way to improve technological literacy while providing meaningful educational resources.
Workforces will simulate interactivity in safe environments but gain the experience of working with genuine explosives. There are no real-world risks when personnel can remotely direct a robot to power down a land mine or drive a virtual vehicle with a precious payload to safety.
The Robotic Boom
Humanity has the technology to make explosives less precarious. Robots are the solution for remote operations, surveillance and testing and can be deployed in numerous industries. Employees should no longer fear stepping on landmines or fretting over a misplaced wire. All people have to do now is work as controllers, and a robot will take care of the rest.
