Southern Ill. bomb squad adds robot

CARBONDALE, Ill. -- Members of the bomb squad for Southern Illinois University and Carbondale have a new member, hard-wired to handle the dangerous work.

The squad has purchased a $150,000 remote-controlled, bomb-disposing robot with a federal grant.

The robot has several cameras and light attachments, lasers, and a grabbing arm. Carbondale police Sgt. Mark Goddard said the robot is versatile, able to look over walls, around corners and underneath vehicles.

The Carbondale unit is one of 11 FBI-certified bomb squads in the state.

The unit generally handles six to eight calls a year, some involving suspicious packages.