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Robot Rodeo Competition for First Responders and Military Bomb Squad Teams

Sandia National Laboratories recently hosted the seventh annual Western National Robot Rodeo and Capability Exercise, a lively and challenging five-day event that draws civilian and military bomb squad teams from across the country to see who can most effectively defuse dangerous situations with the help of robots. Robots can give first responders a protective buffer, go where humans can't, and provide valuable information before a human responder enters a dangerous environment. The ten-event technical competition provides an opportunity to practice using robots and new technology in a low-risk, but competitive environment. This year, competitors included the Albuquerque Police Department, Riverside County Sheriff's Office from California, Kirtland Air Force Base Explosive Ordinance Disposal team, New Jersey State Police, Doña Ana County Sheriff's Office, Los Alamos Police Department, and the New Mexico State Police.