Chattanooga Emergency Responders Learning to Handle WMD Disaster

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Chattanooga emergency responders get a lesson in weapons of mass destruction reaction-- thanks to a little artificial intelligence.

A $250,000 training tool named "Charlie" responds exactly like a human by breathing, sweating, even reacting to medicine just like a real patient.

Charlie even talks to let the trainees know if something hurts him.

Through a computer program, instructors can "expose" Charlie to hazardous materials like WMDs so responders can try to help them just like they would actual victims.

John Rinard is the training coordinator for the Texas Engineering Extension Service. He explains why the group travels the U.S. with Charlie teaching the class. "If the students provide therapy to stop it he'll get better," he said Tuesday about Charlie would react to exposure to a WMD. "If they don't he'll get worse. Which gives them a lesson and a good learning opportunity to know how to handle things better."

The class is funded through a federal grant from the Department of Homeland Security.