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Show NEWS TTTfTT Newly modified van cuts response time by Daren McEwen April 19, 1991 V JT -"- .,u,. W iw A . I 13 Hilltop Times -- -i ii.. i f 1 Hilltop Times staff writer The 2701st Explosive Ordnance Disposal Squadron has recently developed a new van they say cuts response time by 50 percent. According to SSgt. Roger Cannon, assistant squadron vehicle control officer, the new van has been in service for about five weeks now, and has proved efficient cutting time in response to two bomb threats. "Previously, we had to load the robot and everything used to make it go into a trailer. It usually took half an hour," Sergeant Cannon said. "Now all we have to do is get on the van and drive away. I'd say it now takes us five minutes before we are ready to take off." The robot is four feet tall and requires two men to lift. It is fiber optically operated and is controlled by a command board and joystick installed in the van. A camera on the front of the machine transmits images to a television screen installed above the command board. The robot carries a shotgun used to blow out a window or door and a high pressure water cannon used to destroy explosive devices. Sergeant Cannon said that the idea for the van started about six months ago. After gaining clearance on the plans, and finally the van, they im- - Previously... it ... took half an hour.... I'd say it now takes us five minutes before we are ready to take off. nil 99 Li ft SSgt. Roger Cannon Bomb busters 270 Ht EOD osiis'ant vehicle control oHicer mediately started modifying it. He said that five different men worked on the van during the period of develops ment, and together about 200 went into modifying it. Some of the modifications made were specially designed tool shelves placed throughout the van and made so that the team could have quick identification and access of the tools, the command board and the television monitor. Sergeant Cannon said that the 2849th Air Base Group motor pool installed a gate, ramp and flashing emergency lights on the van, and that a radio was put in by a contractor. "It went a lot quicker than we man-hour- SSgt. Roger Cannon, front, and A1C Scott Fleek, explosive ord- S T , ... ir IP I V " " U X J :? v X V V- S. An- Force Photo by Doren thought it would go," Sergeant nance disposal technicians with the 2701st Explosive Ordnance Disposal Squadron, load the squadron's robot into a newly renovated step van that cuts response time to bomb threats. Mctwen the team has responded to two threats. From the experience gained by the threats, they have been able to Can- - non said in reference to the restructuring of the van. He said the team put in a lot of extra time, including free time. Since the van has been in service, - calculate the savings in response time, which they say is better than 50 percent. ju3 y - rn o) 3 XI ATTENTION ALL PERSONNEL 129 So. State 1 0:00 A.M.-6:0- 0 Clearfield P.M.' o 773-008- 5 MONDAY-SATURDA- Y If . .'4 s ( ' : |