Industry Interview: ReconRobotics Inc.
SOTECH 2010 Volume: 8 Issue: 5 (July)
Q: What is the history of ReconRobotics?
A: We are the world’s leading designer and manufacturer of micro reconnaissance robots—those weighing less than two pounds. In fact, we created this robotics category when our CEO, Alan Bignall, founded the company in 2006. The technology behind these robots originated at the University of Minnesota’s Distributed Robotics Laboratory through a research program funded by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency [DARPA]. The idea was to create a throwable, mobile reconnaissance device that was so easy to carry and deploy that it would be useful at the team or patrol unit level. As you know, most robot systems are quite large and difficult to transport. Our robot fits in the palm of your hand. Our goal was to protect the lives of warfighters by giving them immediate situational awareness of hostile environments—what lies over this wall, around this corner or through this doorway? This information gives them a big tactical advantage and protects their lives.
Q: Who are your primary customers?
A: We are fortunate to have a very diverse customer base that includes the U.S. Army, Marine Corps, Navy and friendly forces, worldwide. In addition, our robots are used by nearly every federal law enforcement agency, including the DEA, FBI, ATFE, U.S. Marshals, ICE, Border Patrol and National Reconnaissance Office, as well as nearly 200 police tactical teams here and abroad.
Q: What is it about your products that appeal to special forces operators?
A: First and foremost, it is unique size and performance of our robots, particularly the XT. This robot weighs just over one pound and is only eight inches long. The OCU, which is used to control the movement of the robot and receive its video transmissions, is about two pounds, so our total system weight is just a bit over three pounds. Special operations team members can throw our robot in their pack and it won’t slow them down. When they want to get some eyes on a particular environment—inside a walled compound, bunker or building, they can throw or drive in the XT and gain immediate situational awareness. And because our robots are very small and very quiet and can see in complete darkness, they can be used in reconnaissance operations, raids and MOUT operations, and direct action missions.
In addition, I think they really appreciate the simplicity of the Recon Scout XT system. There is just one activation pin on the robot to turn it on, and one small joystick on the OCU to direct the movement of the robot. It can be deployed in under five seconds.
Q: How do you conduct product development in terms of the warfighter?
A: We have a very strong design and development team at ReconRobotics— some of the best electrical, mechanical and robotics engineers in the business— and they receive feedback on a very regular basis from our military customers. This feedback comes through the normal acquisition channels, as well as through the key military conferences in which we are very involved. This valuable feedback and new military requirements are the key drivers of our product development work. We are a large enough company to have top-shelf expertise, but we are nimble enough to respond quickly. Less than a year ago, we received feedback on our Recon Scout IR from a military customer that they liked the infrared optics and size of the robot, but they wanted it to be able to move more easily across dirt and sand and climb door thresholds. We marshaled our team and produced the XT just four months later. More speed, more terrain-crossing capabilities, bigger motors, drive trains and wheels, but we were able to keep the weight of the robot at 1.2 pounds.
Q: Where will the next generation of advancement take your company?
A: We believe there will always be a need for military robots that are very small, very quiet and very versatile, and we are intently focused on growing our presence this space. Our customers are a continual source of, What if we could do this? and they will undoubtedly drive our business into new areas, but our emphasis will always be on the micro robotics level. Our robots save lives every day, and they increase mission success for many warfighters and law enforcement personnel. We are energized by these ideas and we are focused on the principles of continuous improvement in helping achieve them.
It is hard to say where the evolution of our company will take us two or three years from now, but I would not be surprised if special operations personnel played a major role in our future. They help drive much of what is new in terms of military products and tactics, and they are a resourceful and resilient group of soldiers. If they can conceive of it, we’d like to have the chance to create it for them. ♦