Defense Technology International - December 2007 - (Page 27)

ANDY NATIVI/DEFENSE TECHNOLOGY INTERNATIONAL ANDY NATIVI/DEFENSE TECHNOLOGY INTERNATIONAL performs programmed patrol missions and has an obstacleavoidance system. Requirements for now include having an operator in the loop. Three options are available for control: a vehicle-based station with two operators and three consoles; a portable station packed in a small bag; and a wearable station, with the electronics in a rucksack, a hand-held computer for mission planning and a helmet-mounted display. Praetor will be versatile, a point underscored by the six modular payloads it carries. These include: ISR (intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance) with electro-optical sensors and a laser rangeﬁ nder on a mast; counter-IED; communication and data relay; electronic warfare; and CBRN (chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear) detection. The UGV can also be equipped for combat, with payloads that include ﬁre-control sensors, a 223caliber machine gun, 40-mm. grenade launcher (six rounds), smoke grenades and an acoustic sniper-detection system. Praetor has an additional tool: a mini-UGV called TRP 3 that weighs 5.5 kg. and carries a 1-kg. payload. Controlled by Praetor, it moves for 2 hr. at up to 30 kph. TRP 3 can be loaded on the back of Praetor and released and activated on command. One beneﬁt of this is that Praetor can deploy a small UGV deep in hostile territory to perform surveillance, reconnaissance and other duties. Praetor can also be set up to control a number of di erent UGVs. A tracked UGV called TRP 2 is, at 110 kg., smaller than Praetor, but capable of carrying a larger payload—up to 80 kg. The payloads and missions are basically the same as for Praetor, but with simpler electronics and systems. The robot is powered by two electric motors, has a top speed of 35 kph. and 4-hr. endurance. Oto Melara is also working on a program to swarm interconnected robotic platforms, each weighing about 100 kg. These would carry Viper is a portable UGV designed by Elbit for urban operations. Capabilities include negotiating stairs and rubble. Praetor is an electric-powered, remote-controlled UGV in development by Oto Melara for the Italian army. out security, surveillance and patrol duties over large areas. One goal is to achieve a commonality of design down to the subsystem level to reduce costs and development time. Almost every major European country is conducting UGV research. Some development, however, is underway at the multinational level. The EDA is urging cooperative work among members to develop generic platforms that meet demanding needs. Other activities are carried out by the EU. But in many cases a scarcity of funds and the low value of contracts is hampering projects. Italy participates in some of these e orts through Oto Melara or CIO, the consortium of Oto Melara and Iveco DVD, which manufactures military vehicles. Four initiatives are especially promising: Unmanned Ground Tactical Vehicle is a program involving eight countries. The effort seeks to develop and test a 5-ton tactical UGV, which operates autonomously, performing military • ELBIT

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Defense Technology International - December 2007

Defense Technology International - December 2007 Contents Around the World Science Watch Tech Watch BrahMos: Ramjet Ship Killer r-e-s-p-e-c-t Deja Vu Trump Card Dubai Demos Agile Helos Joint Force Online Charge UGVs Creep, Crawl to Victory Sweet Ride Fast, Lethal Ship Defense Networking Stealth: Why Raptors Can't Talk The Net Cutting Edge First Person In Review Insight

Defense Technology International - December 2007

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