Your questions answered: robots for extreme environments

In the last few decades, robots have advanced from the realm of science fiction to become an essential technology for a host of applications. In particular, robots are often designed for tasks that would be too tedious, too precise, or too dangerous for humans to be expected to do for long periods. In the last of these categories are the hazardous areas robots, which work under conditions that humans can either not handle at all, would require too much protective equipment for the task to be worthwhile, or simply cannot reach: in the heart of nuclear reactors, in space, under the sea, or in environments where the atmosphere is too dangerous for people to stay.

We put your questions on hazardous area robots to experts in the field, including:

Prof Robin Murphy (RM) of the department of Computer Science and engineering at Texas A&M University. One of the leading experts in the field, Prof Murphy is the director of the Centre for Robot-Assisted Search and Rescue, and specialises in artificial intelligence for mobile robotics.