Robots are here to stay, or so it seems. There is a robot known as CHIMP which is human sized, and it is the result of a collaboration by Carnegie Mellon’s University’s National Robotics Engineering Center in Lawrenceville. The CHIMP robot will participate in a disaster response contest, standing tall at 5 feet and 2 inches, weighing in at 400 pounds. It will come equipped with two sets of arms and legs each, and cost over $3 million to develop.
Eric Meyhofer, someone who is part of the CHIMP robot team, shared, “When we have an event, and we can’t send in humans because it’s a bad scene, these are the things that can make a difference and keep you out of harm’s way.” Where does CHIMP come into the equation? CHIMP is meant to respond to disasters, whether natural or unnatural, and that would include a nuclear plant meltdown, or a collapse of buildings after an earthquake and tsunami. CHIMP is able to turn valves, clear debris, travel rough terrain and even grab a fire hose as and when required. Will it come out tops in the DARPA-organized contest? Only time will be able to tell, of course, so we shall just sit tight and wait.
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