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Teddy Bears to the Rescue

by Tim Stevens on June 8, 2007 at 09:46 AM

Teddy Bears to the RescueFrom the "You Can't Make This Stuff Up" department comes a new robot destined for service in the U.S. Military that bears a striking resemblance to a teddy bear. Called the Battlefield Extraction-Assist Robot, the BEAR (yuk yuk) is designed to pick up injured soldiers and carry them to safety.

At six-feet tall, the bot is big enough carry about 500 pounds, plenty for even portly soldiers and all their gear. BEAR can walk upright or roll along the ground thanks to tank treads integrated into its legs. Topping it all off is a goofy-looking head with teddy bear-style ears and a blank stare -- all meant to reassure injured G.I.s. that everything is going to be okay.

You can check out some videos of a prototype version of this robo-teddy in action at the Telemedecine and Advanced Technology Research Center website.

We think you'll agree that BEAR'S tiny cute head doesn't quite make up for its otherwise menacing exterior.

From BBC News

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Tags: BEAR, breaking+news, military, Robots, top, war

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