Future of auto extrication?

Would, could, should this type of machine be used for auto extrication,

building collapse? Could be the future of rescue tools?

Raytheon-Sarcos Prototype Power Loader

from MAKE Magazine by Sean Michael Ragan

It rolls on tracks instead of walking, but this ditch-witch style tracked chassis retrofit with a pair of giant waldos is pretty much the power loader from Aliens. This video showing it in action is a great news segment from Ed Yeates of Utah’s KSL-TV, right up to the point where they start talking about the system as an “equalizer” opening up jobs to women “that might’ve otherwise been closed just based on strength issues.”

Last time I checked, guys, there aren’t a lot of men running around out there who can wave 200-lb steel I-beams around with one arm, either. Still, in all, an extremely cool toy developed by Raytheon-Sarcos (Wikipedia), the same folks who produced the XOS-series powered exoskeletons we’ve featured here before. [via Gizmodo]

Again another incident where a Rescue-Vac may have helped?

United States (Minnesota) - Emergency crews from across the metro spent almost nine hours Thursday trying to delicately extricate a worker trapped up past his chest in corn in a Farmington grain silo. The man fell in while attempting to empty it shortly before 11:30 a.m.

He was freed 8 1/2 hours later.

FARMINGTON, Minn. –Video HERE - http://www.kare11.com/video/default.aspx?bctid=65119454001

After eight hours stuck in a grain bin and a night at Hennepin County Medical Center, Mark Malecha is back home in Farmington. They had to be concerned with Crush syndrome and move the corn bucket by bucket to dug him out. It was literally a race against the corn that the rescue workers and Mark Malecha won.

Rescue Vac Systems web site, they only problem here would have been having long enough hose. 

In Case You Missed it – Trench Collapse

Always a big worry when responder go a trench collapse to try and not become a victim themselves. Seems that this incident was a least safe for the responders. Looks like Atlanta FD handles the job well.

From Fox News Atlanta: There was a trench collapse in Atlanta near I-75 with one worker left dead. This incident was aided by the use of a vacuum truck, probably the best way to remove dirt from a a collapse. My Fox Atlanta has some videos and a report on the story

I have used this system and it really works. (I am in no way associated with Rescue Vac) From their web site, the Rescue Vac is the fastest and safest collapse, entrapment, and engulfment rescue system in the world. Info here at Rescue Vac Systems They also have some video on their site on how this system works.