A high tech robot, which will boost the ability of bomb disposal experts to find and deactivate improvised explosive devices (IEDs) on the front line, has arrived in Afghanistan as part of the Army's Urgent Operational Requirements.

Under a contract worth £12m with QinetiQ UK, 100 robots have been ordered, providing troops with a lightweight, backpackable, multi-terrain robot capable of detecting a variety of devices without putting the operator in harm's way.

It is already proving its worth against the threat of roadside bombs.

It is highly manoeuvrable, and when configured with a manipulator arm can dig around suspicious objects as well as pick them up and move them.

It also has the ability to place small charges to disrupt suspect devices, and further enhancements, including the incorporation of wire-cutters, have been implemented.

Four cameras onboard the vehicle relay images back to the operator via a hand-held controller. The display can show a single view at a time or all four views in quad screen mode for greater situational awareness. The controller is said to be very intuitive to use and can easily be picked up by the 'PlayStation' generation of today.