Police robots, thrown through a broken window, could be used to distract suspects before police enter a room.
The idea is to add a distracting device that produces a loud bang and a brilliant flash to small robots already used by many US police departments.
Weighing about half a kilo, Throwbots can be tossed through windows or over walls and driven around to explore building interiors with video, audio and infra-red sensors. The robots are made by Minnesota-based Recon Robotics and unlike large bomb-disposal robots, they can be operated with minimal training. The firm says around six thousand Throwbots have been sold.
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The Enhanced Diversionary Device (EDD) is a modern version of a stun grenade, often called a flashbang. However, the new device does not explode like a grenade but ejects a cloud of material which reacts to produce a flash and a bang in mid-air. There is no shrapnel and so Liberty Dynamic, the firm that makes the device, says it has a much lower risk of fire and less smoke than earlier devices.
The two companies announced they would work together on the project in August.
The combination of robot and flashbang is intended for hostage rescue and police SWAT teams. Having the diversionary device on a Throwbot allows it to be delivered instantly when needed and precisely.
