Bomb squad takes over plane to train

ALBUQUERQUE - It's a chance to test skills in a real life situation as bomb squads from across the state Thursday competed in Sandia National Lab's Robot Rodeo.

The rodeo may sound like fun, but the event is all pressure as there are stages that get more complex as the competition goes along.

Los Alamos National Lab's bomb squad team member Robert Clark says, "We are pushing ourselves and the robots to the limit so that we know our limit, we know the robots limit, and we can operate within that envelop.”
Miles away, the Santa Fe Bomb Squad is maneuvering through the hardest challenge, the scenario: a suicide bomber has planted explosives on a plane, the terrorist is dead and the passengers have exited the aircraft - now the robot needs to find the bombs.

The steady hands of a bomb squad member control the robot from inside a trailer, just relying on the robots cameras to see; after several tries, the bag is out.

"The point is for the teams to get some real world training." says Jake Deuel with Sandia Labs "Trying to find these packages - trying to open the overhead bin and working in that confined space it's a real challenge for them."
Contestants say this competition is really the only chance they have to get this type of intense hands on experience, "We are doing a lot of good training - a lot of good learning actually. This is our best opportunity to train.” says Santa Fe Bomb Squad member Lawrence Vasquez.

At the end of the day squads say it's not about winning; it's about preparing for their next call.

Bomb squads from the Albuquerque Police Department, Kirtland Air force Base and State Police also competed and out of everyone, APD’s team won the competition.