Can game console technology find roadside bombs

"Wireless communication may be fast for the average user today, but it's not really fast enough for haptic," Jacob Apkarian, CTO at Quanser, said. "So, we're looking into other wireless technologies as well as incorporating other software and control methods to compensate for these issues."

Another challenges Quanser's technical team is looking to address include the ability to retrofit existing UGVs, as well as the allowing for haptic controls of the robotic arm that is often attached to the bomb defusal vehicles. Ultimately, Apkarian hopes to see not only haptic driving, but also haptic manipulation of objects.

"Once they want to dispose of a bomb, they can actually feel the weight of it or make sure it's not stuck on something," Apkarian said.

Developing this remote manipulation, he said, will also have implications in a variety of other fields including telesurgery, hazardous waste removal, nuclear reactor maintenance, boarder patrol and mine shaft exploration. Quanser will continue development through the year and aims to have a working prototype by 2009.