Water Search Robot Shown
The East Baton Rouge, La., Sheriff’s Office has purchased the VideoRay ROV, designed to assist in underwater search and rescue. The remotely operated, eight-pound robot vehicle is equipped with side-scan sonar to locate objects and a camera to identify the objects before sending divers in. It can dive deeper and endure colder water than humans.
The technology, which sells for about $34,000 per unit, was demonstrated at a recent public safety divers course in Zachary, La.
“It’s one of the most-unobtrusive ways to search for something,” says East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s Lt. Shane Evans. The robot is not intended to replace divers, and picking up heavy objects and swimming against strong currents are beyond its capabilities, according to Evans.
Abstracted by the National Law Enforcement and Corrections Technology Center(NLECTC) from the Baton Rouge Advocate (LA) (07/25/05) P. 1B; Ricks, Damiane.
