Natural speed, please.
Land mines kill 800 people every month and prevent people returning to their homes after a conflict is over. Comet III is an experimental mine-clearing robot developed at Chiba University in Japan. It is fitted with caterpillar tracks, letting it move quickly over rough ground. For mine hunting it has six legs, allowing it to walk delicately through mine fields. It takes 20 seconds to calculate each step. Slow processing speeds prevent Comet III from moving more quickly.
Comet III has stereo vision provided by two digital cameras. This makes it navigate by itself without the help of remote control. Comet III has metal detectors and ground-penetrating radar, allowing it to detect different types of mine. A reflected signal from a mine causes Comet III to probe gently to uncover the mine. Vibration or pressure can make a mine explode, so the work must be done with care.
Sometimes the ground is very hard, which prevents the probe uncovering mines. Newer models fitted with drills and an air hose will let the robot do this safely. A robotic hand will allow the robot to pick up rocks.
Thank you very much.