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  • Author Author: Catwell
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DIY bomb investigating robot saved lives

Catwell
image
Only image of Ernie Fessenden's RC truck (via Sergeant Chris Fessenden)
 
In a gesture of brotherly love and DIY finesse, Ernie Fessenden built an RC truck with a built in camera to keep his bother safe in Afghanistan. His brother, Sergeant Chris Fessenden, routinely used this “Traxxis Stampede RC truck” in the battle field. The RC truck’s hood mounted camera sent a video relay to an LCD that Sergeant Chris Fessenden had attached to his rifle. When an object in the road looked suspicious, the RC truck would be deployed.
 
During one such incident, the truck was sent out to investigate an area. During the investigation, the RC truck triggered an improvised explosive device (IED) intended to be used on Sergeant Fessenden’s convoy. All soldiers were saved from the 500 pounds of explosives, but the $500 dollar RC truck was lost. Ernie Fessenden has already sent another replacement. He is a good brother.
 
What troubles me in this story is the fact that a home-made device is all the group of soldiers had to investigate a possible trap. I think something like this RC truck should be in every military vehicle. Are a handful of lives not worth $500? If I had Ernie Fessenden’s plans for his truck, I would gladly build a few.
 
Let me see if I can get in touch with him…
 
Cabe
  • in reply to DAB

    DAB,

     

    This particular RC truck costs around $200 new. Which isn't much. But the main benefit of the platform is its height, wheels, and the ability to go over 30 mph. If other RC cars can have the same specs at a lower price, I do not see why they could not be used. However, it sounds like the cost might all be in the video electronics.

     

    Most bomb handling robots have a mechanical arm or probe of some sort. Fessenden's truck might have just been "lucky" when it found the bomb it triggered. So, I am on the fence about RC car's usability on the battle field.

     

    But having something is better than nothing, right?

     

    Cabe

  • This is the best use I have seen yet for R/C vehicles ever.  This would be a perfect task for Ben Heck to build up a prototype so that E14 members could build them cheaper in a mass production effort.  Clearly we could do better than $500 a copy.  I have been picking old R/C vehicles at garage sales as low as $1.00.  If we can get a mod kit together, we could get a bunch of these into the hands of the troops.

     

    DAB