Defense Technology International - December 2007 - (Page 28)

VEHICLES ISRAEL AEROSPACE INDUSTRIES ROBOTIC wheel-and-track system developed by Galileo Mobility Instruments Ltd. of Lod, Israel. The system is powered by two electric motors. A socalled “scorpion-tail” attachment elevates the payload and stabilizes the platform, enabling the vehicle to negotiate rough terrain. The system is operated by a control harness and helmet-mounted display. Payload capabilities are broad. They include infrared cameras, a day/night zoom camera, explosives detector, 4-ft. arm and gripper and inbuilding mapping. Initial users will probably be special forces, but the IDF eventually plans to ﬁeld Vipers with elite infanCaterpillar Mini-Cat is an engineering vehicle modiﬁed by Israel try platoons. The robot can Aerospace Industries for remote-control operation. be equipped with a suite of missions in hostile areas, recognizing and adopting the best visual and acoustic sensors and mount options like a probe, route and avoiding obstacles. CIO is the industrial lead in the pistol, 9-mm. machine gun and grenade launcher. The IDF is also adding large UGVs for perimeter security EDA program. Small Semi-Autonomous UGV, involving six countries, and border patrols. Last year it conducted operational tests of is developing a 300-kg. technology demonstrator that per- several systems for partly autonomous security and patrol misforms CBRN operations, reconnaissance and counter-IED sions, as part of operations along the West Bank and Gaza. Elbit is adding various capabilities, including a hemispherimissions in an urban environment. A wheeled vehicle is planned that runs in a semi-autonomous mode. It will have cal display based on several video cameras. The images gensituational awareness and decision-making capability, plus erated by each camera are automatically stitched together mapping, path-planning, path-ﬁnding and obstacle detec- to create a 360-deg. picture, which is transmitted to a comtion, based on an assigned goal. An operator will work in a mand post. Signal processing of a continuous sequence of remote support and supervision role. Rheinmetall of Ger- images will enable more advanced capabilities, such as momany is the industrial lead, and Oto Melara is involved in tion detection and object and obstacle tracking. The hemispheric view also permits the vehicle and operator to point the EDA program. Networked Multi-Robot System is a simulation-only pro- the UGV at targets of interest. An important application is heavy engineering vehicles. In gram. The goal is to trial a group of autonomous UGVs that perform coordinated operations. The program aims to go the past, robotics were used in such vehicles, but they were beyond the idea of a swarm, in which vehicles work indepen- primarily remote-control operations, requiring complex madently of others. NMRS seeks to develop a team concept, nipulation of the vehicle’s onboard systems. By utilizing the under which each vehicle communicates with the others, latest digital control technology and remote vision, robotic sharing information and data and coordinating action. Four operations are improved to where operators can run the countries are involved in the EDA program, which is led by machines as if they were in the driver’s seat. Such systems are in development by a team from Israel Diehl of Germany. European Union Framework Program 7 includes Sminos Aerospace Industries’ Ramta Div. and InRob Ltd. in Yavne, (Surveillance and Monitoring of Infrastructures with Net- Israel, a specialist in wireless and remote-control systems. work-Operated Swarms). This program, which has attracted The team recently introduced two modiﬁed Caterpillar vesix countries, will demonstrate the potential of UGV swarms hicles: the Mini-Cat, a multi-terrain loader, and the D9T for infrastructure security and surveillance. It has yet to heavy bulldozer. For the Mini-Cat, the companies developed a dedicated be funded. In Israel, meanwhile, every infantry soldier is a potential control system to convert Caterpillar’s MTL 257 B loader robot operator. That seems to be the thinking of the Israel into an unmanned platform. The system has a touch screen Defense Forces, which will soon add a portable robot called that provides full control of complex tasks in real time. The D9T bulldozer is an upgraded version of the IDF’s DP Viper to its arsenal of UGVs. Developed by Elbit Systems Ltd. in Haifa, Israel, the Viper (Versatile, Intelligent, Portable Ro- models. The di erence is more advanced digital commandand-control technologies. bot) will initially be ﬁelded in support of infantry units. The IDF has ordered conversion kits, and the ﬁrst of the The robot weighs 11 kg., ﬁts in a backpack and is operated by one soldier. It can negotiate obstacles like stairs and rubble, D9T bulldozers are slated to be operational by the end of perform surveillance and reconnaissance and support troops the year. I in urban combat. Viper achieves mobility in urban terrain from an integrated With David Eshel in Tel Aviv. • • • 28 DEFENSE TECHNOLOGY INTERNATIONAL DECEMBER 2007 www.aviationweek.com/dti http://www.aviationweek.com/dti

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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