SPECIAL

Bomb detection: Inventors seek funding, feedback

By Wannapa Khaopa

The Nation

The deep South has been plagued with attacks by insurgents over the past seven years that have kept bomb-disposal units busy. They have also boosted the need for explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) robots.

A year after violence flared in the far South, the Naresuan Maharaj Camp in Chiang Mai commissioned the local Lanna Polytechnic College to create an EOD robot. When initial tests proved successful, the college created another five for use in the South. The robots cost Bt50,000 each and were created using raw materials bought in Bangkok's Banmoh market. The border patrol police later had the college produce more of these devices.

"Border patrol police don't have a huge budget to buy imported robots," Prasit Chooduang, deputy director of the college, said. "But as we have been collaborating with this camp for 20 years, we decided to give them our robots, even though they're not as hi-tech as the ones produced overseas. It's better than not having anything to assist their risky work."

Kittisak Taemtong, assistant director at Lanna Polytechnic, is devoted to creating and developing EOD robots with help from auto-mechanic students. "I use basic mechanisms, which are easy to understand. This way, police can repair the robots themselves when a problem occurs onsite," he said, adding that the spare parts were also easy to find.

"The robots were made using bicycle, motorcycle and washing machine parts, not equipment made specifically for robots," he explained.

Lanna Polytechnic is not the only educational institute helping ensure the safety of security personnel. The Army gave King Mongkut's Univer-sity of Technology North Bangkok Bt1.5 million to create an EOD robot.

Rawat Siripokapirom, a lecturer at the university's Faculty of Engineering, said their commissioned robot was sent to an Army camp in the southern province of Pattani last year for testing. A second robot had just been completed and would be sent to the authorities in the next month or so.

Even though educational institutions are cooperating with different security forces, they have not been receiving much feedback from the authorities to further develop the devices, according to Thavida Maneewarn, president of Thai Robotics Society and deputy director of the Institute of Field Robotics (FIBO) at King Mongkut's University of Technology Thonburi.

"The police reported when they had problems with the robots, and together we helped get rid of the flaws. Now those robots are much better," Kittisak said in agreement.

Meanwhile, Rawat said he was still waiting for feedback from soldiers, even though the project was supposed to have ended after the device was delivered.

Petch Nantivatana, a lecturer at Sripatum University's Faculty of Engineering, whose team created a landmine detection robot in 2003, said it was a shame the team had not been given a chance to develop the device so it could be used in real life.

Kittisak cited the recent tragedy in Narathiwat, when two bomb-disposal officers were killed and nine others injured due to a malfunctioning EOD robot and worn-out bomb suits. He said the disaster could have been avoided if the devices were regularly maintained.

Another obstacle is the lack of support from security agencies, government, the private sector and even the general public, who don't trust technology created locally even though Thai students had shown their ability by becoming world champions several times, Petch and Thavida said.

The pair called on government agencies to help finance inventions and give feedback.

-- The Nation 2011-01-17

I wish non scientists would learn the difference between inventions and innovations.

Sad to see Thailand piss money up against the wall for the likes TAT but when it comes to getting the south safe and bombs being disabled they 'don't have the budget'. Give me a break!

EOD robots in the west are very expensive. Lots of cameras and attachments such as xray. And they need to be specific as for example is it small enough to search under stadiums seats, but reach enough to check a plane overhead rocket. The original one used by the brits was a modified wheelbarrow. The Thais may be onto something here. The best detection device is a wet dogs nose but you need to be able to remove or destroy the bomb. Don't be hasty attacking the Thais here.

I wish non scientists would learn the difference between inventions and innovations.

Very true, but I would not even apply the modifier innovative to their robots. A more appropriate descriptor would be uncomplicated! But lacking the budget to obtain the innovative western bomb disposal robots, what else could they do?

Maybe Dr. Pornthip could volunteer to lead a brigade of military staff officers with diving rods?

Surely , once the bomb is detected by a wet nosed four legged animal , a well directed shell would dispose of it , that was how mines were destroyed at sea , no sailors swimming out to poke it with a stick . Finances should be discussed prior to the start of a project a-la your local automotive repair man , bit late starting out willy-nilly to prove your point how good you are then demanding payement if you happen to be successfull ..