Re: Japanese De-mining Robot

Tomb wrote:

> http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/newse/20020213wo71.htm
>
> Now, ask yourself, with tech like this, do we really need Combat
> Engineers?
>
> <I'll bet Herr Atkinson's ears are buzzing even at this distance....
> *grin*>
>
> Neat idea. Wonder if it will work out.
>
> Tomb Raider

While it is a nice idea, the question is do the people that need it the
most have the ability to pay for.  A more interesting idea was proposed
by Mark Tilden, a researcher in simple robotics.  He suggested really
simple tethered robots that wandered about the fields and trails that
blindly flailing the ground with a wooden knob on the end of bamboo
pole.  When the inevitable occurs, the operater drags the robot back,
and fixes it with local materials.  In the possible occurrence of the
robot being totally destroyed, it was intended to be a mere $10-20 (Can)
to replace.  The ten million yen would by several thousand of these
simple bots, so the fact that they do not clear areas quickly (being
solar powered) is mitigated by the ability to exploit the tyranny of