<p>Lots of jobs are now handled by robots. Soon we might add Indy pit crew to the list.</p><p>The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency has a robot that can change a tire, picking up the tire, getting it off and on the (simulated) wheel and using the lug wrench. This may sound pretty simple, but the point isn't the changing of the tire it's holding the tools. Robots that can hold tools are a lot more versatile than those built for a specific task, because then they can adapt to doing whatever is asked of them instead of a robot that only tightens nuts, it's possible to ask one to pick up a screwdriver as well.</p><p>The robot won't be putting pit crews out of work just yet it's actually rather slow. Eventually, though, models might be built that can work faster.</p><p>Gill Pratt, a program manager at DARPA, told the New York Times that the ability to move like a human hand has a lot of important military uses imagine a robot that can rifle through a bag or box, and identify objects by touch. Right now a soldier or security officer has to do that when searching bags and in some places that's dangerous if one suspects something like a bomb is inside. Letting a robot do it would be much safer.</p><p><a href="http://mashable.com/2013/04/01/darpa-robot-change-tires/">Keep reading...</a></p><p>Read also:</p><p><a href="http://phys.org/news/2013-04-darpa-two-armed-robot-tools.html">DARPA&#039;s two-armed robot handles tools at less cost</a> (Phys.Org)</p><p><a href="http://www.engadget.com/2013/04/01/darpa-low-cost-robot-hands/">DARPA working on low-cost robot hands, aims to make yours even more idle ...</a> (Engadget)</p><p>Explore: <a href="http://news.google.com/news/more?ncl=dT2EduDo0kaT5yMlWMN5yUnWGnlSM&ned=us">5 additional articles.</a></p>