American engineers develop a rescue robot for disaster sites - Sarmad

American engineers have developed a tall, steel robot designed to perform hazardous tasks in unsafe environments, aiming to keep humans out of harm’s way at disaster sites and volatile areas.

The U.S. tech website “Interesting Engineering” quoted engineer Bo Ji and his team in California, stating that the robot, named “ThreeHives,” stands about seven feet tall. It features a human-like upper body and a four-legged base, with interchangeable arms that can be fitted with tools such as saws and drills in minutes.

Engineer Bo Ji said the robot was designed to keep humans away from dangerous locations, where it can carry out difficult tasks such as clearing rubble after earthquakes, handling radioactive or chemical materials, and cutting down trees fallen during storms. Its quadrupedal design provides significant stability on uneven surfaces, while friction brakes hold its position without consuming energy, and a pneumatic system with safety locks prevents collapse in the event of air pressure loss.

These developments come as the robotics industry increasingly embraces hybrid designs, with several companies working on similar robots for use in rescue operations, construction, and emergency response.