Happy National Robotics Week
This week marks the 2nd annual National Robotics Week. The celebration,which technically started on Saturday and runs through Sunday, is designed to:
- Celebrate the US as a leader in robotics technology development
- Educate the public about how robotics technology impacts society, both now and in the future
- Advocate for increased funding for robotics technology research and development
- Inspire students of all ages to pursue careers in robotics and other Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math-related fields
In honor of the week, I thought I would highlight some of the ways that robots are contributing to our homeland security mission. According to the report First Responder, Homeland Security, and Law Enforcement Robots Market Shares, Strategies, and Forecasts, Worldwide, 2010 to 2016, the market for first responder and law enforcement robotics is expected to reach $3.7 billion by 2016. Among the areas where robots are and could be providing services to homeland security interests are:
- cyber-physical systems security
- CBRNE/WMD detection
- Explosive and bomb disarmament
- UAVs and UGVs for surveillance and border security
- Underground/tunnel operations
- Robotic search and rescue
- Underwater/Coast Guard functions
- Perimeter security
In order to be successful in the homeland security space, experience has shown that cost-effective robotic systems must move and navigate in a physical world and interact with first responders, law enforcement, and citizens in an effective manner.
Happy National Robotics Week. If you are looking for activities in your area, they can be found here.
