Sign on Options
Theme:
To Dark

Scientists adapt Wii Remote for military robot

  • By Emma_UK, GameSpot
  • Posted Mar 27, 2008 8:26 am PT

Engineers at the US Department of Energy's Idaho National Lab in Idaho Falls have been trying out using a Wii Remote to control their bomb disposal robots, reports New Scientist. David Bruemmer and Douglas Few have modified the military Packbot robot so that it can be controlled using Nintendo's...

Engineers at the US Department of Energy's Idaho National Lab in Idaho Falls have been trying out using a Wii Remote to control their bomb disposal robots, reports New Scientist.

David Bruemmer and Douglas Few have modified the military Packbot robot so that it can be controlled using Nintendo's motion-sensitive Wii Remote.

The Packbot, which is made by iRobot, hunts down explosives, disposes of bombs, and checks for land mines to make areas clear for US soldiers.

Packbot can do some tasks autonomously but is generally controlled by a soldier using a joypad, similar to a standard console controller. However, doing things this way requires a lot of concentration, believe the two engineers, and a Wii Remote is much better suited to the task.

Bruemmer said, "Our tests show 90 percent of the operator's workload goes into driving the robot rather than keeping an eye on the sensor data. The Wii Remote is far more intuitive because movements of the hand directly translate into movements of the robot." This would therefore allow the soldiers to be able to pay closer attention to what they're seeing.

iRobot CEO Colin Angle agrees, and said, "Using the Wii Remote to control various aspects of the robot makes a lot of sense."

New Scientist also mentions that the Wii Remote has been used in a variety of other unconventional ways, including manipulating ultrasound images and monitoring movement deficiencies in people suffering from Parkinson's disease.

63 Comments

  • Nurematsu

    Posted Apr 1, 2008 7:39 am GMT

    lol, I knew my hometown was weird, but I had no idea they were trying to use a wiimote in a robot. Go Idaho Falls!

  • LosDaddie

    Posted Mar 31, 2008 12:26 pm GMT

    that's great!

  • Masterdj1992

    Posted Mar 31, 2008 11:04 am GMT

    "Our tests show 90 percent of the operator's workload goes into driving the robot rather than keeping an eye on the sensor data."

    For those in the Military that are xbox gamers, the xbox 360 controller works fine. The motion technology seems like it would be harder than pressing a button and moving a joystick...
    Just an opinion, Go ahead and post a joke, I'll copy it somewhere else and you will never get the credit.....

  • nintendoboy16

    Posted Mar 31, 2008 8:04 am GMT

    Whoa! That is cool! This should mean fewer lives lost. (Well, let's hope, I just hate war)

  • galduke

    Posted Mar 30, 2008 8:51 pm GMT

    As for future combat models, "Crap, the gun jammed!" "Try a stabbing motion!"

  • brawl_freak

    Posted Mar 30, 2008 2:08 pm GMT

    way to go nintendo

  • Verno77

    Posted Mar 30, 2008 10:07 am GMT

    It's great to see video games being used for such particle applications.

  • TAKE_IT_BACK

    Posted Mar 29, 2008 5:59 pm GMT

    That....is so.....frickin....cool

  • HugoMattos

    Posted Mar 29, 2008 1:46 pm GMT

    Once more Nintendo innovates. And this time, is helping the world(!!!).
    Go Wii! Go Nintendo!

  • taj7575

    Posted Mar 29, 2008 11:35 am GMT

    that is so ownage. go wii!

  • darknferno12

    Posted Mar 28, 2008 12:27 pm GMT

    Ah U.S Military is there anything you can't do? but seriously this seem like a good idea wouldn't mind seeing a demo

  • Erebus

    Posted Mar 28, 2008 12:02 pm GMT

    I have a Wii, and am very pleased with it.

    HOWEVER, you have to wonder: was the Wii-Remote THAT much of a technical marvel? So much so that militaries, doctors, teachers, and the like are adopting it? Of course, I did turn my LCD screen into a Tablet PC screen with the Wii remote... But it's more gimmicky and doesn't really serve a purpose.

  • chris_klein

    Posted Mar 28, 2008 9:51 am GMT

    But can I control this robot from my wii console at home? Because that would be rad. Dangerous and stupid, but rad.

  • Arclight_Blue

    Posted Mar 28, 2008 4:49 am GMT

    I hope they dont run out of batteries when theyre trying to control a bomb

  • Arclight_Blue

    Posted Mar 28, 2008 4:48 am GMT

    I hope they dont run out of batteries when theyre try to guide a nuclear missile

  • roll450

    Posted Mar 27, 2008 7:59 pm GMT

    Wow what you can always do to a home console.

  • djcoldkill

    Posted Mar 27, 2008 5:40 pm GMT

    oh that's awsome. Once again someone found a good feature the wii can be, therapy, exercising, now the military. Nintendo props big time

  • capitalthoughts

    Posted Mar 27, 2008 4:38 pm GMT

    So when the Wii Remote starts saving lives I bet you dimes to doughnuts that the PS3 and X360 fanboys will still be calling it a gimmick and last gen.

  • friendsof

    Posted Mar 27, 2008 3:55 pm GMT

    Damn scientists and their robots!! don't they watch sarah conner chronicles? this can only end badly

  • SHACKR

    Posted Mar 27, 2008 3:37 pm GMT

    What the? lol

  • shoeman12

    Posted Mar 27, 2008 2:35 pm GMT

    that's great, real world applications for the wiimote!

  • Kashuno

    Posted Mar 27, 2008 2:10 pm GMT

    Neo-R.O.B. anyone?

  • synth47

    Posted Mar 27, 2008 12:59 pm GMT

    sweet

  • mariomusicmaker

    Posted Mar 27, 2008 12:37 pm GMT

    Hey little kid, wanna play with my robot! but i dont know how...
    oh sure you do! it uses a wii remote, your grandmother can do it! COOL! eh... dosn"t quite fit with nintendos marketing but it sure is cool

  • Obliterati

    Posted Mar 27, 2008 12:33 pm GMT

    If only they could train my Wii to go grab me a beer from the fridge...

  • Serraph105

    Posted Mar 27, 2008 12:23 pm GMT

    ps3 cures cancer but the wiimote saves the whole ****ing world

  • funky_muzic

    Posted Mar 27, 2008 12:02 pm GMT

    Just imagine what they'll be able to do with the Wii Fit Balance Board!

  • -Zills-

    Posted Mar 27, 2008 11:49 am GMT

    Actually I think one of the first nucleur bombs used some PS1 or 2 parts.

  • raven28256

    Posted Mar 27, 2008 11:26 am GMT

    The concept of using game controllers to control remote drones for the military has been around for a few years. The US Armed Forces and Israeli Defense Force have been using 360 controllers for a while to control small recon drones, some of which are in the field already. So the concept of using game controllers for robots in the military isn't new, just the concept of using the Wii's motion-sensing technology.

    And for the curious, you can find pictures and more information on the Packbot here: http://www.irobot.com/sp.cfm?pageid=109

  • PiNwOrM

    Posted Mar 27, 2008 11:21 am GMT

    A scary thought, the wiimote is nowhere near precise enough for bomb defusing.

  • guidedtruth

    Posted Mar 27, 2008 11:20 am GMT

    wow this is amazing mabye we will get a good shooter like call of duty 4 maybe call of duty 5

  • jedinortd_basic

    Posted Mar 27, 2008 11:11 am GMT

    that is so cool!

  • Galadreil782

    Posted Mar 27, 2008 11:08 am GMT

    Wow thats amazing! The Wii is defenetly raking in success

  • stfolife

    Posted Mar 27, 2008 11:07 am GMT

    Nice to know where our tax dollars

  • electro57

    Posted Mar 27, 2008 11:01 am GMT

    So a Japanese company whose country no longer holds a standing army, has an electronic device now made just for modern warfare. Talk about irony. Next thing you know we will be dropping laser guided xbox360s instead of bombs.

    I bet the next batch of Wiis will be packaged in camoflage and come with a free RPG.

  • RaiKageRyu

    Posted Mar 27, 2008 11:00 am GMT

    Hell no, the Wiimote has less precision than any console controller. We're all going to die.

  • AngelCage

    Posted Mar 27, 2008 10:53 am GMT

    @JackfnBurton

    and i guess your wii give you some 'pleasure' too... if you know what i mean... that self loading media bay is so hot!!!

  • HavQ-san

    Posted Mar 27, 2008 10:52 am GMT

    I also remember something about the PS2 used for terrorism a while back..
    This proves that Nintendo owns Sony hard.

  • VenomRitual

    Posted Mar 27, 2008 10:51 am GMT

    lol. wow. i wonder if they change the remote from white to army green! it would look nice.

  • HavQ-san

    Posted Mar 27, 2008 10:46 am GMT

    So now Nintendo's helping to save the world. Wowzers.

  • JackfnBurton

    Posted Mar 27, 2008 10:35 am GMT

    The Wii can do anything. It did my taxes, gave me ripped abs and it makes a mean Captain and Coke. It also talks to me when I feel bad and walks my dog when I don't have time. IN YOUR FACE SONY.

  • DJ_Quack_Quack

    Posted Mar 27, 2008 10:31 am GMT

    congrats to nintendo.

  • yoshi_64

    Posted Mar 27, 2008 10:28 am GMT

    So... hold on... the tilt control will be manipulating the movement of the robot? What other things would it do? Control the arms of the robot? and so on via motion control? If that is so, I guess two Wii Remotes would be used? to manipulate the arms? Still not sure how this whole thing works, and I don't want to downplay the idea if it supposedly will be more effective, but how does manipulating a joypad remove one's eyes from the sensor data and how will the Wii Remote be able to reduce this?
    I remember on Futureweapons on the Discovery channel, they had this "APC" like device that can carry units, equipment and the like, and has some serious off roading tricks where it can go almost anywhere being manipulated via 360 Wired controller and I don't know how a motion controller would help with that... but I guess a robot is more "human" like that natural movement is better?

  • YourDaddy88

    Posted Mar 27, 2008 10:19 am GMT

    Cool.

  • rockstar_88

    Posted Mar 27, 2008 10:18 am GMT

    Even you would go "WTF?" if you saw a nerf football and two darts stuck in the ground. You probably wouldn't suspect it to be an explosive, but it happens. Using Wiimotes to detect IEDs makes military EODs jobs much easier so that as many soldiers as possible come back home.

  • EternalDove

    Posted Mar 27, 2008 10:17 am GMT

    Nintendo.

    Automatic Win Button.

  • AngelCage posted Mar 27, 2008 10:15 am GMT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    AngelCage

    Posted Mar 27, 2008 10:15 am GMT (hide)

    i predict thah noone here will critize this, and even a lot of people will say things like "Good to the wii" and "wii rox"... so different about the PS3 and folding@home, wich a lot of fboys seems to hate... oh well.

    Wee will se some soldiers -using these robots- making stupid hand gestures to make the dam thing to move to somewhere... terrorist will respect more the us army when they see these though soldiers witha wiimote in the battlefield.

  • mguid22

    Posted Mar 27, 2008 10:13 am GMT

    Noooo Bill! Not clockwise!!!! *KABOOOOM!!!!*

  • Yo-gan

    Posted Mar 27, 2008 10:10 am GMT

    Awesome, thats pretty cool

  • kayn83

    Posted Mar 27, 2008 9:52 am GMT

    Maybe we'll see a decent shooter on the Wii

Subscribe to GameSpot's YouTube Channel

Hot Stories

Newsmakers

Featured Stories

Submit News

Got tips? Send them in!