By Business editor Trevor Sturgess

Hazardous frontline bomb disposal could become a little more safe thanks to a robot being developed in the county.

University of Greenwich experts at the School of Engineering in Chatham have teamed up with Folkestone-based firm NIC Instruments to design and manufacture the robot for security forces, including the British Army.

NIC already supplies security search and bomb disposal equipment to police, customs and other organisations, and expects a sales boost from its latest product.

The light-weight remotely-operated robot can be controlled by a wireless device similar to one used on a games console - from a distance of several hundred metres. The robot can climb stairs and even open doors.

Weighing in at 48kg and measuring 72cm by 35cm, the robot is much lighter and more flexible than traditional bomb disposal units.

It makes it easier for soldiers to carry and use in the field. On-board cameras can transmit images back to the operator via the hand-held control, and includes a versatile gripper which can carry and manipulate delicate items.

The robot, which can travel at up to eight miles per hour, also includes nuclear, biological and chemical weapons sensors.

Dr Steve Woodhead, reader in Computer Systems and Networks in the School of Engineering, said: "It's great to be able to employ our specialist knowledge to support a small manufacturing company in its next stage of development, as well as producing a vital security product."

Steve Wisbey, NIC Instruments' managing director, added: "The partnership with the University of Greenwich has allowed us to expand our technology base considerably in a highly compressed timescale. We are now exploring ways of extending our partnership, as other security projects between us are already under way."