Army officials are looking for robotic equipment that can maneuver through rough terrain under adverse environmental and lighting conditions, provide reconnaissance and surveillance, navigate in GPS-denied environments, project sensor information to remote work stations, and operate safely in limited-visibility environments. To find these capabilities, U.S. Army’s first Robotics Rodeo will be held September 1-3 at Fort Hood, Texas. The event is sponsored by the Army’s Tank Automotive Research, Development and
Engineering Center and Fort Hood’s III Corps. The event is an opportunity for industry to demonstrate to Army and government officials how the latest robotic technologies will support their operational needs by performing
dangerous combat missions normally completed by soldiers. Among companies demonstrating are Boeing and Oshkosh.

Boeing Combat Systems is developing several robotic solutions designed to protect soldiers. One of them is the small unmanned ground vehicle 300 series of robots, designed in partnership with iRobot Corp. These robots can be equipped with cameras, sensors, computers and sophisticated software to perform basic reconnaissance, dispose of explosives and complete other tasks that greatly reduce risks to soldiers in the field.
Boeing and subcontractor Autonomous Solutions Inc. will also demonstrate semi-autonomous navigation capabilities by using surrogate vehicles to simulate military convoy and route-clearance vehicles in war zones.
Oshkosh will use its military vehicles to demonstrate the Oshkosh TerraMax autonomous vehicle system and its capabilities, including robotic logistics convoy operations, advanced perception technology and humanassisted
change detection, during two unique demonstrations.

Mary McAdam: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Reconnaissance Robot

ReconRobotics Inc. announced the introduction of the Recon Scout XT throwable reconnaissance robot that will allow military personnel and police tactical teams to conduct immediate visual reconnaissance of challenging indoor environments and rugged outdoor landscapes of dirt, sand and rocks. More than 100 police and security agencies, including the FBI, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, the National Reconnaissance Office and several branches of the U.S. military already use Recon Scout robots for tactical reconnaissance.

Equipped with large motors, powerful drive trains and aggressive wheels, the new throwable Recon Scout XT can be directed to quietly move through a building, bunker or cave and transmit real-time video back to the warfighter’s handheld operator control units. This video can be used to locate civilians, enemy combatants or explosive devices, and enable the warfighter to gain situational awareness during urban warfare operations or remote reconnaissance missions. In police tactical operations the Recon Scout XT can provide real-time reconnaissance during operations involving high-risk warrants, barricaded suspects and hostage rescues.

The Recon Scout XT is just 8 inches long and weighs just 1.3 pounds, making it extremely easy to carry and throw. Moreover, deploying the Recon Scout XT takes just five seconds, and using it requires no special training. Simply pull the activation pin and throw the device through a doorway or over a wall, or drop it down a vertical shaft using a tether. Using a single joystick on the operator control unit (OCU), a tactical team leader or warfighter can then direct the device to move through the environment and send back real-time video. Equipped with an infrared optical system that automatically turns on when the ambient light is low, the Recon Scout XT can transmit video up to 100 feet indoors and 300 feet outdoors, day or night. The Recon Scout XT may also be specified in any of three transmitting frequencies, allowing police and military personnel to operate up to three robots in the same environment at the same time.

Ernest Langdon: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Night Vision Monocular

American Technologies Network Corp. (ATN) announced that the National Tactical Officer’s Association (NTOA) has completed its review and testing of the ATN 6015-WPT night vision monocular and has received an overall score of 4.9 out of a possible 5 in their Member Tested and Recommended Program ratings.

The ATN 6015-WPT monocular is based on ATN’s successful PVS-14 system used by the U.S. military. The ATN 6015-WPT can be handheld, head/helmet-mounted for hands-free usage and can be adapted to be used with cameras or camcorders. The ATN 6015-WPT also features ATN’s latest night vision innovation of White Phosphor Technology in which the viewer sees a crisp black-and-white image instead of the traditional green-glowing image. This new technology allows for a clearer image with more detail and greater depth perception—critical elements for law enforcement and private security surveillance. The officers performing the tests rated the performance, design, ease-of-use, quality, versatility, and convenience with high scores of 4.9 or above.

“I really enjoy the clearer image unlike most NVDs that illuminate in the typical green hue. ... I would recommend this unit [ATN 6015-WPT] to any agency that is looking at purchasing quality NVDs.” In particular, one officer tested the unit during a nighttime scuba dive and greatly appreciated the “clear image” underwater.

James Munn: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Mine Countermeasure

Raytheon has delivered the next-generation AN/AQS-20A Minehunting Sonar and AN/ASQ-235 Airborne Mine Neutralization System (AMNS) to the U.S. Navy.

As stated during an AMNS ribbon-cutting ceremony, “Fielding systems as promised is what makes a great industry partner,” said Donna Carson-Jelley, Navy program manager for Minewarfare (PMS 495).

Considered critical components of the Navy’s organic mine countermeasure arsenal, the advanced technologies of these systems have the potential to vastly improve the safety, effectiveness and efficiency of mine countermeasure missions and truly take the sailor out of the minefield.
Both of the low rate initial production models of the AN/AQS-20A Minehunting Sonar and the AN/ASQ-235 Airborne Mine Neutralization System will be extensively tested so that when the programs enter full production they will meet all fleet expectations.

Supporting mine-clearing operations in both deep-ocean and littoral waters, AN/AQS-20A detects, localizes and identifies bottom, close-tethered and volume mines, and AMNS re-acquires and neutralizes mines found by AN/AQS-20A.

Both systems have been integrated into the MH-60S and the MH-53E airborne mine countermeasures helicopters. Additionally, the AN/AQS-20A has also been operated from the AN/WLD-1 Remote Minehunting System, an unmanned surface vehicle.

The AN/AQS-20A and AMNS are essential capabilities planned for integration into the mine countermeasure mission package for the Navy’s Littoral Combat Ship. The AN/AQS-20A system is towed undersea to scan the water in front and to the sides of the vehicle as well as below for anti-shipping mines. The system uses sonar and electro-optical sensors to provide high-resolution images of mines and mine-like objects as well as high-precision location
 information.

AMNS is deployed from the MH-60S multimission helicopter to locate and destroy underwater anti-shipping mines previously detected by the AN/AQS-20A mine hunting sonar. The system consists of a helicopter-based control console as well as a launch and handling system equipped with four unmanned Archerfish neutralizer vehicles that destroy mines via remote control from the operator in the helicopter.

Developmental and operational testing of the AN/AQS-20A and AMNS began in 2002. Under the current contracts, Raytheon will deliver a total of 20 AN/AQS-20A systems by January 2011 and five AMNS by December 2009.

Final Assembly for S-70i

PZL Mielec, a Sikorsky Aircraft Corp. company in Poland, has begun final assembly of the
first S-70i Black Hawk helicopter. The production marks the beginning of a new helicopter in the Sikorsky product line, an international variant of the Black Hawk helicopter.

The first S-70i helicopter is expected to be completed in 2010. “The startup of the production line in Poland is a defining moment for the S-70i helicopter program,” said Bob Kokorda, Sikorsky vice president for corporate strategy and synergy.

To increase its presence in the international marketplace, Sikorsky has designated PZL Mielec as a final assembly center for the S-70i Black Hawk helicopter. Production of highly
advanced and combat-proven Black Hawk helicopters and cabins in PZL Mielec is expected to
provide opportunities to numerous privately and publicly held Polish aviation entities. currently PZL Mielec already cooperates with 23 suppliers and subcontractors in Poland; that figure is expected to increase to about 100 in the foreseeable future, as the work progresses.

The S-70i Black Hawk helicopter will be produced through a cost-effective global supply
chain and is planned to be delivered directly from Poland to international customers. A key
competitive feature of the Polish-made S-70i Black Hawk helicopter is that it will provide multimission, 10-ton utility lift capability at a price comparable to helicopters in the 6- to 8-ton class. ♦

Anna Karwacka: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it