Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
John Hollenhorst reportingDeputies in Utah's Summit County have been trying out a new member of their search and rescue team.
It's a robot! And, it's potentially valuable as a tool against terrorism.
Suppose there's a drowning victim, a dead body, lurking somewhere under the surface of Rockport Lake.
Now deputies can assign this contraption to find it. Not much to look at, but well equipped for the task, with lights, camera, and a claw for grabbing things.
More important, it has on-board sonar for detecting underwater objects.
A video camera provides an underwater view. In this training exercise, the robot is searching for an underwater mannequin. It can swim at a pretty good clip.
A remote control pilot can make it dive hundreds of feet deep.
It can swim where a diver might hesitate to go, and come back safely.
Dep. Sheriff Jim Snyder/ Summit County Sheriff's Office: "Because of the elevation and the water depth in a lot of our reservoirs, it's extremely hazardous for a diver to go all the way to the bottom."
The idea of a robot diver took root in Summit County five years ago, after a scuba diver working for the sheriff nearly died when he got the bends.
The robot cost $130,000, paid by the Department of Homeland Security. It can be used to investigate chemical spills and terrorist threats to water supplies, and even potential bomb attacks on a dam.
Jim Snyder, deputy sheriff: "For example, a cable leading down into the water. Not knowing what's at the bottom of the cable, we can deploy the R.O.V. and go down and see whether it's a real device or not before we put anyone in harm's way."
Finding the mannequin turned out to be a slow, laborious training exercise.
Capt. Alan Siddoway/ Summit County Sheriff's Office: "These older lakes have a pretty good sediment layer on the bottom. It's difficult to locate a body."
But eventually a dummy deputy came into view, Summit County badge and all. And the robot's claw actually grabbed the mannequin's thumb.
Eventually it was mission accomplished: The mannequin hauled aboard, the robot ready to swim another day.
The Summit County Sheriff has promised to make the robot available to law enforcement wherever it's needed around the state. A similar device has been at use at Lake Powell for several years.
