Metro News Release

For immediate release: August 27, 2003

Transit officers armed with maneuverable robot designed to disarm potential explosive devices

Robot is latest addition to Metro’s security inventory

A three-foot tall, six-wheeled metal robot with a two-foot arm and a series of cameras is the latest tool that Metro Transit Police officers have at their disposal to keep bus and rail customers safe. The 500-pound robot, designed to disarm potentially explosive devices, can be directed to roll along Metrorail station mezzanines and platforms, climb stairs, or approach a suspicious package by heading down the aisle of a Metrobus or a rail car. The high-tech metal vehicle was purchased for $126,000. It is operated by a specially trained member of Metro’s Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit who sits at a portable computer monitor that displays visuals from the robot’s cameras. The officer then carefully directs the robot’s movements, all the while staying a safe distance from what could be a dangerous situation. "These Transit Police officers have attended the FBI Hazardous Devices School in Huntsville, Alabama, especially designed to teach explosive detection and disarming skills," explained Transit Police Chief Polly Hanson. "They are truly highly skilled technicians who are called upon to approach suspicious packages and determine whether they are harmful. In this post 9-1-1 environment, we have already called upon them on several occasions to evaluate unusual packages. Fortunately we have not discovered anything to be harmful, but if we do, we are prepared." A new rapid-response vehicle for the Transit Police Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit now allows the team of officers to respond even quicker to get to the scene of an incident and begin their work, using the vehicle as a mobile command center. For example, if a package was deemed "suspicious," customers would be immediately cleared from harm’s way. The Transit Police Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit would arrive at the scene with their equipment (including custom-designed explosive resistant suits and helmets) where they might be called upon to maneuver the robot to approach a trash bin, open it, remove a package, move it to a different location, and disarm the package if deemed necessary. In another scenario, the officers may not use the robot, but instead may use a portable x-ray device to determine a package’s contents. The Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit also has explosive detection canines that it uses to help in the determination of explosive contents in a package. "We hope that we never have to deal with an explosive device in our system," Chief Hanson said. "However, we live at a time in history when that is a possibility, and we are doing everything that we can to ensure our system’s security and as an extension, the safety of our customers."

News release issued on August 27, 2003.