Delhi police may get sci-fi anti-terror tool

The robot carries a machine gun, a camera and a bomb-diffusing chemical; demo held for Delhi cops

Delhi police may get sci-fi anti-terror tool

The robot carries a machine gun, a camera and a bomb-diffusing chemical; demo held for Delhi cops

This may change the face of counter-insurgency operations in urban landscape, forever.

Straight out of a Hollywood sci-fi thriller, enters a robot. Christened Mini Remote Operative Vehicle, this compact robot moves on a belt, just like a tank, and carries a machine gun, a camera and a special bomb-diffusing chemical.

A Canadian company gave a demonstration on Tuesday at the Delhi Police Headquarters and showed how it can be of help to the force. Joint Commissioner of Police (Northern Range) Karnal Singh led the Delhi Police team that observed the demonstration in detail and evinced keen interest in the machine.

When MiD DAY asked Singh whether the Delhi Police will buy the armed robot, he refused to comment, saying no decision has been taken as yet.

Urban soldier: VIPER, the robot weapon of the Israeli Army, can climb stairs and rubble while performing surveillance jobs

However, if the force acquires the mean machine, it will become the first police force in the country to boast of such counter-insurgency and anti-terrorist tools.

The makers of the robot showed Singh and his team how it could operate on any terrain and made it climb stairs. The robot also showed how it could fire accurately and record and communicate real time information during a combat situation. The manufacturer also made the robot carry a sand bag to show its versatile capacity.

Such robots are in use in the US and Israeli armed forces and the Israeli Army has deployed similar machines on the Gaza border, one of the most dangerous flashpoints in the world.

Senior police officials, requesting anonymity, told MiD DAY that the robot would come in handy during emergencies. "Normally when we get calls about a bomb our bomb disposal squad goes to the spot. There is always a risk involved. However, if we get the robots, the machine will not only be able to detect the bomb but defuse it as well. Hope the robot is purchased as soon as possible," said a senior official.

Although officials refused to reveal the exact price of the robot, sources said that it was priced at around Rs 15 lakh to over a crore. "The camera installed on the robot guides it through narrow lanes. During emergencies when the police cannot enter an area, the robot will easily penetrate and fire and when necessary, detect and defuse bombs or just spy on the enemy," said another police official.

Karkare would have been still fighting terrorists

The Mumbai police control room's wireless beams that several terrorists have taken people hostage in five-star hotels. The anti-terror squad immediately rushes to the spot with armed robots and other gadgets.

The robots enter the hotels and send real time pictures and footage of the situation inside, the controller processes them and communicates the situation to senior officials. The robots identify the targets, the controller fires at them by using remote controls and the hostages are rescued.

Reads like a Mission Impossible for us, but for hundreds of counter-insurgency personnel in Israel and the US it is a reality. If only we could have updated ourselves in time, Hemant Karkare and his colleagues would still have been there to protect us.

Invisible sword

Foster-Miller claims the TALON is one of the fastest robots in production, one that can travel through sand, water, and snow (up to 100 feet deep) as well as climb stairs. The TALON transmits in colour, black and white, infrared, and/or night vision to its operator, who may be up to 1,000 m away. It can run on lithium-ion batteries for a maximum of 7 days on standby independently before needing recharging. It has an 8.5 hour battery life at normal operating speeds. It was used in Ground Zero after the September 11 attacks working for 45 days with many decontamination without electronic failure. It weighs less than 100 lb (45 kg) or 60 lb (27 kg) for the Reconnaissance version. Its cargo bay accommodates a variety of sensor payloads. The robot is controlled through a two-way radio or a fibre-optic link from a portable or wearable Operator Control Unit (OCU) that provides continuous data and video feedback for precise vehicle positioning.

It is used by the US Army for explosive ordnance disposal and disarming improvised explosive devices and can carry day/night colour cameras and listening devices, small arms, uses chemical, gas, temperature, and radiation sensors. The robot costs approximately $60,000 in its standard form.