Subscribe to Print Edition | Fri., July 18, 2008 Tamuz 15, 5768 | | Israel Time: 21:54 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Rosner's Domain Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Car Rental Books Haaretz Magazine Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File

Last update - 11:26 30/06/2008 Robot hospital: Where IDF treats droids wounded in the line of fire By Yuval Azoulay, Haaretz Correspondent Tags: IDF, Julis, robot, booby trap In Warrant Officer Ilanit Finkelstein's workshop, a black robot that gave up the ghost during an operation in the West Bank has been lying on the table for several weeks. The electrical short circuit from which it suffers was particularly deadly, and the suitcase from which soldiers can give it orders was burned. Finkelstein, who is in charge of the electronics department at the Julis base, finds it difficult to recall a robot that came to her in such bad shape, at least recently. "We are waiting for replacements parts to come from the manufacturer in the United States," she says. "We will do a few experimental activities with it in laboratory conditions and afterward we will hand it over to the unit that has to operate it." The Israel Defense Forces robot fleet now numbers several dozen, which are used by IDF units in the West Bank and the Gaza area. Their main aim is to minimize the chances of soldiers getting hurt in combing buildings and tunnels that could be booby-trapped. The robots, which are less than a meter tall, know how to climb staircases quickly, photograph what is standing in front of them and transmit the live picture to a distant command position. Given an order from afar, they are also capable of opening fire on terrorists and suspicious objects. Advertisement A robot that is wounded in action is brought to the "robot hospital" - a workshop of the armaments unit of the Central Command (Regional Armaments Unit 650), which is located at the Julis base in Lachish. During an average week about three robots that have been damaged in the line of duty are brought in. Only three soldiers, in the career army, have the know-how and credentials to repair the robots. The repairs are not carried out only at the workshop. "Sometimes we are sent into the field in order to solve problems that arise in the functioning of the robots during the course of operational actions," says Finkelstein. "We don't have the time to linger over the treatment of hitches because the robots are very essential for operational action, and we definitely are saving human lives." The creative solutions that the workshop people have been able to come up with for repairing robots have saved about NIS 50 million for the defense establishment. "Before we order an important part for a robot, we sit and think what we can do in order to avoid the huge expenses," relates another member of the robotics team at Unit 650, Warrant Officer Yitzhak Yahana. "We don't have any professional literature on the subject. We have accumulated all the knowledge we have from experience in the field and experience of hitches that have occurred. And we are constantly improving our ability to solve problems and decreasing the amount of time until the robots are once again fully fit." Related articles: Four wheels and an electronic brain: Meet IDF's newest soldier IDF to use unmanned jeeps in conflict with Gaza militants Bookmark to del.icio.us   Show me the money European Jews would do well to look to U.S. Jews for lessons on renewal. A tale of two mothers Israeli documentary 'To Die in Jerusalem' earns three Emmy nominations.   1.   Some of the Old Israeli glory 12:22  |  Ulf 30/06/08   2.   Droids..".Desert Walker" 13:02  |  Stephen. 30/06/08   3.   But IS HE JEWISH?????? 13:23  |  Ronnie Wolman 30/06/08   4.   What Does An IDF Robot Say After Hearing "Kadeema Acharai" From 17:11  |  Lavi 30/06/08   5.   answer to # 3: yes, he is a golem. 18:49  |  frenz 30/06/08   6.   robocops 19:07  |  frenz 30/06/08   7.   # 4. Lavi. He squeaks unless he is oiled. 02:45  |  Stephen. 01/07/08   8.   Will we trade live terrorists for these too? 10:52  |  dyinglikeflies 01/07/08   9.   At Last, At Last, the IDF is using new tech against her foes! 08:27  |  Heidi Helmick 07/07/08   10.   Robot Hospital 21:40  |  Encinoman 18/07/08

Read & React Samir Kuntar: I'm yearning more than ever to confront Israel Responses: 199 Shalit talks hit impasse as Hamas hangs on to 'asset' Responses: 100 Marco Greenberg: The real story of anti-Semitism in the U.S. Responses: 105 ANALYSIS / What does Nasrallah mean by 'defense strategy'? Responses: 56 David Landau: Olmert has walked right into Nasrallah's trap Responses: 31 Rosner's Domain Is there a crisis in U.S.-Lebanon relations? (WTR) Do U.S. Jews really support 'necessary compromises' for peace? Why does Israel keep agreeing to prisoner swaps? Talansky threatened to use a bomb - a long time ago (WTR) More Headlines 13:44 Six arrested in Israel for allegedly plotting attack on Bush 20:37 VIDEO: What Talansky said about Olmert in his testimony 08:36 Shalit talks deadlocked as Hamas hangs on to 'asset' 19:54 Report: Obama's planned visit to Mideast raises serious security concerns 13:38 Israeli film on mothers of suicide bomber, victim tapped for 3 Emmys 20:56 Spat between Jews and Muslims sours Saudi interfaith summit 09:15 This hyphenated life, post two / Jew me down 16:50 Teva to buy U.S. drug giant for $7.5B in biggest ever purchase by Israeli company 00:47 Samir Kuntar: I'm yearning more than ever to confront Israel 05:55 ANALYSIS / What does Nasrallah mean by 'defense strategy'? 07:25 Rabbis felt emotional difficulty in identifying remains 18:37 Even the Arab envoys came to bid farewell to Israel's UN ambassador 12:44 Serbia setting up case against alleged Nazi unit member living in U.S. 11:46 Girl, 16, arrested for pimping out 13-year-old neighbor Previous Editions Select Day 17 jul 16 jul 15 jul 14 jul 13 jul 11 jul 10 jul 09 jul 08 jul 07 jul 06 jul 04 jul

Special Offers Advertisement Fattal Hotel Chain Perfectly located hotels on best resorts of Israel. Israel's Premier Real Estate Website www. israel-property.com Dan Hotels Israel Live the Legend & experience an Unforgettable Summer Vacation Yossi Avrahami Presents: New Luxurious Projects in North Tel Aviv & Eilat Holyland Park Jerusalem Apartment Tower World Class Luxury Your vacation starts here Israel Travel Center Guaranteed Lowest Rates Hebrew Summer courses From $39.95 ISRAEL BONDS Build Israel Israel bonds - a multi-purpose way to celebrate Israel's 60th Eldan Rent a Car Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on all online reservations Junkyard Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt

Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | Underground | Site rules |

Real Estate in Israel | Travel to Israel with Haaretz | Hotels Israel | Restaurants Israel | Tourist attractions Israel | Shops Israel

birthright Israel | Search engine marketing

Haaretz.com, the online edition of Haaretz Newspaper in Israel, offers real-time breaking news, opinions and analysis from Israel and the Middle East. Haaretz.com provides extensive and in-depth coverage of Israel, the Jewish World and the Middle East, including defense, diplomacy, the Arab-Israeli conflict, the peace process, Israeli politics, Jerusalem affairs, international relations, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, the Palestinian Authority, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the Israeli business world and Jewish life in Israel and the Diaspora.

© Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved