SARBOT doesn't live up to standards
»Play Video
FRANKLIN COUNTY, Wash. - Franklin County Sheriff deputies ran into problems with its new underwater robot while searching for a drowning victim.
This high tech robot was touted as the cutting edge. The SARBOT could see where dive rescuers could not to find drowning victims or even those fighting to survive.
Gary Stalder has spent 30 years as a lifeguard. He's seen many scares in the river and doesn't think a robot could hold up against the fast flow.
He said, "I thought, man even with the life jacket on with that eddy in the river pulled me down because it had that 20 foot canoe going round in circles."
Dive rescue experts say the fast currents make it almost impossible for the robot to be effective. The murky condition of the river providing almost zero visibility and some may stop and wonder why so much money was spent on such a device."
It's not just the fast currents that are the problem. The SARBOT ran into multiple problems during the search for a recent drowning victim.
The connectors don't seal, allowing water to short out the device.
They must be dried out every time just to get an image on the screen.
Also, there's no GPS to tell operators where they're looking. So if they spot something critical they wouldn't know where to find it. Officers say this is a necessity when searching a river. The robot cost $90,000. So was it a rip-off?
Franklin County Patrol Deputy Darrell Chambers said, "Each tool has its own limitations. We're finding out what those limitations are and it's developing technology. They're going to have little quirks in it."
Gary Stalder would prefer to steer clear of any situation involving the SARBOT.
He continued, "I still wear my life jacket. I make my kids, grandkids, my wife. We all wear life jackets."
Relying on an inexpensive life vest instead of a fancy machine that has yet to prove itself.
The Franklin County Sheriff's Department hopes to better learn how to use the SARBOT for future use. They ultimately want to raise money for the bigger model that has more features and will be better suited for use in the river.
This high tech robot was touted as the cutting edge. The SARBOT could see where dive rescuers could not to find drowning victims or even those fighting to survive.
Gary Stalder has spent 30 years as a lifeguard. He's seen many scares in the river and doesn't think a robot could hold up against the fast flow.
He said, "I thought, man even with the life jacket on with that eddy in the river pulled me down because it had that 20 foot canoe going round in circles."
Dive rescue experts say the fast currents make it almost impossible for the robot to be effective. The murky condition of the river providing almost zero visibility and some may stop and wonder why so much money was spent on such a device."
It's not just the fast currents that are the problem. The SARBOT ran into multiple problems during the search for a recent drowning victim.
The connectors don't seal, allowing water to short out the device.
They must be dried out every time just to get an image on the screen.
Also, there's no GPS to tell operators where they're looking. So if they spot something critical they wouldn't know where to find it. Officers say this is a necessity when searching a river. The robot cost $90,000. So was it a rip-off?
Franklin County Patrol Deputy Darrell Chambers said, "Each tool has its own limitations. We're finding out what those limitations are and it's developing technology. They're going to have little quirks in it."
Gary Stalder would prefer to steer clear of any situation involving the SARBOT.
He continued, "I still wear my life jacket. I make my kids, grandkids, my wife. We all wear life jackets."
Relying on an inexpensive life vest instead of a fancy machine that has yet to prove itself.
The Franklin County Sheriff's Department hopes to better learn how to use the SARBOT for future use. They ultimately want to raise money for the bigger model that has more features and will be better suited for use in the river.
