BEAR Action Videos

*Instructions for Viewing Video Files

BEAR Second Floor Soldier Rescue
(File Size 28.8MB)

BEAR Casualty Rescue
(File Size 9.7MB)


BEAR Casualty Rescue (standing up)
(File Size 8.4MB)


BEAR Demonstration at Robotics Demo Day
(File Size 17.3MB)


BEAR Loading Truck
(File Size 10.3MB)

View more BEAR Video Clips in the Robotics Video Clip Archives

BEAR Robot in the News

• BEAR Article in Robot Magazine
• BEAR Article in BBC News
• BEAR Article in Medical Design Magazine
• BEAR Video on CNN
• Bear Video on Associated Press
• Bear Video on WJZ Channel 13 in Baltimore, MD
• BEAR Video Download - "BEAR The Development of a Life Saver"
• BEAR Article in the Boston Globe
• TIME Magazine - BEAR Robot named a "Best Invention of 2006"
• The Bear Robot: Rescuing Soldiers on the Battlefield and Helping the Infirm at Home
• Battle Bot: Designed to Extract Wounded Troops

Vecna Technologies Inc. is building and testing a highly agile and powerful mobile robot capable of lifting and carrying an injured human out of harm’s way using a gyro balance system mounted on two wheeled (tracked) base. The gyro system and tracked base are intended to give the robot a high degree of mobility over rough, uneven terrain and dynamic balancing behavior for high-speed mobility when speed is needed.

A 2 phase approach is planned with two successive prototypes being built: Phase I is research and design phase with the initial design laboratory prototype being built on a 2-wheeled Segway base. Phase II will be development of the operational prototype and operational testing.

The Phase II BEAR prototype will be composed of a mobility base tightly integrated with a powerful but sensitive upper body with arms. The Phase II BEAR prototype will be further enhanced by adding a tracked capability over the road wheels. The track array will be segmented in two places allowing the robot to tilt forward or backward to maintain a low profile on the battlefield, bend down on it “knees” to pick up a casualty, or all the way into a prone position to pick up and carry a casualty maintaining a low profile (low crawl position). The segmented design approach will enable the robot to recover from falling or being knocked over from any position.

The body movement of the BEAR is controlled by a system of hydraulic valves and pressure sensors and amplifier array which enables a movement CPU to lift loads by compensating for weight and pressure by sending messages to a system of hydraulic valve controllers. Completed robot system will be JAUS compliant.

Since the design features a torso and arms that use a unique hydraulic system that can lift and carry its cargo or "passengers" safely and effectively up to 500 pounds, it could be leveraged for logistic support missions as well as medical missions.

Instructions For Viewing Large Video Files

• For optimal quality replay of the following clips, please save the clip to your local computer prior to viewing.
• For Windows-based computers, this can be done by right-clicking on the link, and selecting "Save As" from the menu.
• Playing clips directly from the TATRC website may result in choppy or stalled play.
• These are large files, and may require significant download time if access is via a dial-up connection.