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General Robotics Showcases New Integrations at IDEX/NAVDEX 2023

Tuesday, February 21st, 2023

Moshav Beit Nehemya, Israel, 20 February 2023:

170M DETECTOR USV

General Robotics, Israel’s leader in Light Weight RCWS Systems and tactical robotics, highlights advanced integrations of the company’s systems over platforms from several manufacturers. The systems are displayed by several leading integrators participating in the IDEX defense exhibition and NAVDEX naval expo opening today in Abu Dhabi.

SHARK – Naval Light & Smart RCWS

On display is the SHARK, a remotely controlled weapon system (RCWS) mounting an M2HB .50 machine gun. SHARK is installed over the 170M DETECTOR, an autonomous vessel developed by the ADSB company and IAI. (Stand 05-A05)

Built as a rugged, robust, seaworthy system, it is versatile enough to operate remotely on a cluttered deck, scoring direct hits at a sea state up to 3, where the platform and targets constantly move. With SHARK onboard, operators can benefit from advanced automation, stabilization, and platform integration functions such as the intuitive ‘Point & Shoot™ technology’. The AI-driven fire control runs a target prediction algorithm (TPA) to align the projectile’s path and the target’s expected location and points the weapon in that direction. Only then is a burst fired. This technique has demonstrated a hit accuracy of over 80 percent.

Pitbull RCWS mounting the Sig Sauer MG338

PITBULL RCWS

The latest version of the PITBULL lightweight RCWS is shown in two configurations. One is shown by the Abu Dhabi company EDT, mounted on Plasan’s ATEMM, a ground robotic vehicle that can be deployed as an unattended weapon system. The ATEMM on display carries a stack of loitering weapons, self-protected by General Robotics’ PITBULL RCWS mounting the .50 CAL H2MG. (Stand 11-C07). The PITBULL is also displayed with the new MG338 at Sig Sauer’s Stand 02-B14.

PITBULL RCWS mounted on Plasan’s ATEMM.

Teamwork – DOGO and CHAMELEON.

Robotic Teamwork

The teamwork of two operational robotic systems developed by General Robotics is also explored. DOGO, a small tracked armed reconnaissance robot optimized for operations indoors, is now geared to work with Chameleon as a marsupial robot carried on DOGO’s back or thrown up to a higher floor or roof to enhance situational awareness and extend communications link. DOGO and CHAMELEON are on display at International Golden Group (IGG) at Stand 04-C20

PITBULL provides the hard kill element of UAE’s Resource Industries’ C-UAS suite.

PITBULL Anti Drone

Another version of PITBULL highlights the system’s anti-drone capabilities. PITBULL can be equipped with electronic effectors from D-FEND Solutions or Droneshield for soft-kill or employ a firearm with its sophisticated automatic target recognition, tracking, and advanced target prediction capabilities for hard kill. Resource Industries (Booth CP-050) shows the PITBULL Anti-Drone in this configuration.

Posted in International, Press Release, Robotics, Sensors, Tradeshow | Comments Off on General Robotics Showcases New Integrations at IDEX/NAVDEX 2023

Milrem Robotics Exhibits Cutting-Edge Intelligent and Integrated Robotic Systems at IDEX 2023

Monday, February 20th, 2023

The leading European robotics and autonomous systems developer Milrem Robotics exhibits several cutting-edge intelligent and integrated robotic systems at IDEX 2023 launched today in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

The robotic systems on display are intended for a wide range of missions, including tactical intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR), and sophisticated combat operations.

Milrem Robotics’ unmanned systems are complemented with Milrem’s Intelligent Functions Kit MIFIK which provides autonomous capabilities and a command-and-control system intended specifically for robotic systems that integrates multiple dissimilar unmanned aerial and ground assets. Milrem Robotics’ solutions aim to facilitate manned-unmanned teaming, the synchronized deployment of soldiers, manned and unmanned air and ground vehicles, robotics, and sensors to achieve enhanced situational awareness, increased lethality, and improved survivability.

”In ten years Milrem Robotics has evolved from a vehicle developer into a system integrator in the robotics domain. We provide full system solutions including different ground and aerial systems with integrated command and control. Over the next years we will increase our product portfolio in terms of new autonomous ground systems and work on manned-unmanned teaming solutions,” said Kuldar Väärsi, CEO of MIlrem Robotics.

Altogether three Milrem Robotics’ systems can be found at IDEX.

The Type-X Robotic Combat Vehicle is an organic part of mechanized units that can take the most dangerous positions and provide equal or overmatching firepower and tactical usage compared to traditional Infantry Fighting Vehicles. Thanks to Vegvisir’s Mixed Reality Situational Awareness System Type-X operators have a 360-degree virtual dome with EO/IR sensor fusion for both close and medium proximity vision and target engagement capabilities in any condition.

In addition to a 30mm autocannon, the Type-X is equipped with Halcon’s Hunter 2S loitering munitions launchers.

The two other displayed robotic systems are based on the multi-mission THeMIS unmanned ground vehicle (UGV) that is already delivered to 16 countries, including 8 NATO members and that has proven itself during a 12-month deployment in Mali during Operation Barkhane.

The THeMIS Combat UGV provides high-precision direct-fire support for manoeuvre units. With the self-stabilizing, dual-gun SCORPION Remotely Controlled Weapon Station (RCWS) by Saudi Advanced Technologies (Wahaj), advanced sensors and fire control system, the THeMIS Combat allows units to assess and engage the enemy at maximum standoff distances, increasing force protection and survivability. Additional security is provided with the Spexer 2000 radar, which can detect small and slow as well as fast manoeuvring targets on the move and operate in a high-clutter environment.

The THeMIS Observe is built for tactical reconnaissance missions. The system includes a variety of sensors for day and night operations, acoustic gunshot detector, smoke screen protection and a ground surveillance radar. Extra security is provided by the deFNder® Light RWS by FN Herstal. The combination of those systems allows units to do multi sensor identification on one platform and react faster on emerging targets.

The company’s products are on display with EDGE, one of the world’s leading defence groups, and an emerging leader in the development and manufacture of technologically advanced autonomous systems in stand A05 – C10.

Posted in International, Robotics, Tradeshow | Comments Off on Milrem Robotics Exhibits Cutting-Edge Intelligent and Integrated Robotic Systems at IDEX 2023

Fort Bragg’s Airborne Innovation Lab Prepares Ghost Robotics Vision 60 Q-UGV Model for Airdrop Testing

Wednesday, February 8th, 2023

Putting the AIRBORNE in Airborne Innovation Lab.

The AIL built a model of the Ghost Robotics Vision 60 Q-UGV for testing door bundle configurations of the Division asset.

Here you see the first iteration, Woody 1, being fitted for his first airborne operation. Once initial testing is complete, they will begin iterating on a metal model of the Vision 60.

Designing, testing, and learning is a cyclic process that the Division continues to do as Masters of the Airborne JFE.

Posted in Advertiser, Parachuting, Robotics | 5 Comments »

SHOT Show 23 – Ghost Robotics x Onyx Industries Nautical Autonomous Unmanned Tail

Friday, January 20th, 2023

Exhibiting in the Darley Defense booth the Ghost Robotics team has been demonstrating the various capabilities of their Vision 60 Quadraped Unmanned Ground Vehicle seen in this photo from Ghost Robotics.

An unexpected capability is the ability to swim. Onyx Industries developed an appliqué called the Nautical Autonomous Unmanned Tail kit which uses a water jet to propel the Quadraped through water at a speed of 3 knots for over half an hour.

Onyx Industries provided this photo of the NAUT mounted to a Vision 60.

Posted in Advertiser, Maritime, Robotics, SHOT Show | 1 Comment »

Boston Dynamics Joins Persistent Systems Wave Relay Ecosystem

Wednesday, January 18th, 2023

• Persistent Systems networking devices to be sold with robots intended for defense, public safety applications

• Spot® quadruped robot equipped with the Persistent Systems MPU5 is well suited to keep responding teams out of harm’s way during a wide range of potentially hazardous environments and situations

NEW YORK, Jan. 17, 2023 — Persistent Systems, LLC (“Persistent”), a leader in mobile ad hoc networking (MANET) technology, announced today that mobile robotics company Boston Dynamics has joined Persistent’s Wave Relay® Ecosystem.

The Ecosystem is an industry alliance of unmanned system and sensor producers all using the Wave Relay® MANET as their preferred network for command-and-control and communications. As part of its agreement with Boston Dynamics, Persistent will supply the MANET devices used on robots sold to defense, public safety, law enforcement and U.S. federal government customers.

“We are excited to have Boston Dynamics join our Ecosystem,” said Jeremy Hickman, Director of Business Development for Persistent Systems. “We believe that our MANET technology will provide their robots with a high-performance solution that is robust, reliable and scalable—and also enables interoperability with third-party unmanned and sensor platforms.”

Boston Dynamics officials noted that they see the new Ecosystem agreement with Persistent Systems as a way of better positioning the company’s robotic quadruped Spot for industries requiring dedicated, secure communications networks in remote environments.

“We see Spot, operating on a Persistent Systems MANET, being used in many different applications, including subterranean or confined space exploration, unexploded ordnance inspection, suspicious package investigation, hazardous gas detection, search and rescue, and structural inspection,” said Kimberly Chamblin, Director of Partnerships, Public Sector, at Boston Dynamics.

In addition to MANET hardware being physically integrated with Boston Dynamics robots, robotic command-and-control software will be loaded onto Persistent Systems devices so that users can control them via the Persistent Systems Remote Display and Controller (RDC).

“So, not only will you be able to stream sensor data collected by Spot, but you will also be able to control its movement with the RDC,” Hickman said. “This configuration both empowers the users and reduces the need for each unmanned system to have its own unique controller.”

For more information about Persistent’s MANET solutions, visit our website: www.persistentsystems.com.

Posted in Comms, Industry, Press Release, Robotics | Comments Off on Boston Dynamics Joins Persistent Systems Wave Relay Ecosystem

The iMUGS Consortium Demonstrates Autonomous Missions with Robotic Systems

Thursday, December 15th, 2022

The integrated Modular Unmanned Ground System (iMUGS) project Consortium showcased the usage of autonomous unmanned ground systems for various defence missions, including intelligence gathering, casualty evacuation and last mile re-supply at the projects penultimate demonstration in Versailles, France. The event was led by Safran and Nexter and supported by other consortium members.

All the partners met in the premises of Nexter Robotics, made available during the weeks of integration and validation preceding the demonstration.

During the demonstration, three Milrem Robotics’ THeMIS UGVs equipped with payloads from the consortium members and cooperation partners fulfilled several autonomous missions to demonstrate the ability of the complete iMUGS system. These included autonomous mission planning from the operator’s point of view, ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance & Reconnaissance) with object detection and recognition, autonomous re-supply and casualty evacuation and cyber threat response.

The missions, performed by the French armed forces, presented how manned units can utilize unmanned systems to conduct missions more safely and effectively. “Unmanned systems increase stand-off distance from the enemy and, thanks to various sensors and effectors, provide soldiers the means to gather a higher quantity and much more precise information about their operation area than humans are capable of,” said Kuldar Väärsi, CEO of Milrem Robotics, the iMUGS Consortium lead.

“Autonomous unmanned assets are a game changer for armed forces as they allow the allocation of soldiers to more important tasks,” Väärsi added.

The UGV’s autonomous functionality that includes follow-me, waypoint navigation and obstacle detection and avoidance capabilities was developed by consortium members Diehl Defence, Milrem Robotics, Nexter and Safran. ISR was provided by OTEOS, the Escribano Mechanical & Engineering’s Electro Optic System, SAAB Grintek’s Laser Warning System (LWS) and Metravib Defence’s PEARL acoustic shot detection. Radio communication was provided by Bittium’s software defined radios.

The command and control (C2) and tactical C2ISR by GMV and sol.one were setup in the Krauss-Maffei Wegmann’s Boxer Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) with a C2 mission module and a static command centre. Cyber threat response was provided by Talgen. dotOcean and Insta showcased, via video, global and local swarming capabilities, respectively, in their in-house simulator.

The demonstration organized in France was the fifth of a total of six demonstrations held during the iMUGS project. The previous demonstrations were held in Estonia, Latvia, Finland, and Belgium. The last will be held in December in Germany.

Posted in International, Press Release, Robotics | Comments Off on The iMUGS Consortium Demonstrates Autonomous Missions with Robotic Systems

MIT Develops Self-Replicating Hierarchical Modular Robotic Swarms

Saturday, December 3rd, 2022

According to an article in Nature, Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Center for Bits and Atoms (CBA) has developed self-replicating hierarchical modular robotic swarms. That sounds kind of ominous as so many of us are concerned with the use of robotic swarms to overwhelm defenses.

But there’s a word you need to add to your vocabulary and that’s “Voxel”. Some are familiar with the mathematical definition:

Voxel is an image of a three-dimensional space region limited by given sizes, which has its own nodal point coordinates in an accepted coordinate system, its own form, its own state parameter that indicates its belonging to some modeled object, and has properties of modeled region.

There’s another use of the term and that’s in regard to robotics. Voxels are also small robots, generally uniform in size and structure which can be used as components to build a larger robot: kind of like Lego or other construction sets you used as a kid. However, these voxels do so much more. They not only offer mechanical function but can now transit power and data to one another.

You can easily see how these robots can be used for assembly and that these structures will make us question what a robot is as its functionality becomes inherent in many new things which go beyond what we currently consider a robot.

The robots themselves consist of a string of several voxels joined end-to-end. These can grab another voxel using attachment points on one end, then move inchworm-like to the desired position, where the voxel can be attached to the growing structure and released there.

Assembler robots building bigger versions of themselves are just the beginning. Eventually, we will see systems which can reconfigure themselves, shapeshifters if you will, as their purpose changes.

What’s more, they could be capable of repairing themselves by replacing voxels as they are worn out or damaged. Let that sink in. The implications are enormous and may quite possibly change the order of things.

Posted in Disruptive Tech, Robotics | 7 Comments »

Milrem Robotics to Deliver 14 THeMIS UGVs to Ukraine in Cooperation with KMW

Saturday, December 3rd, 2022

The leading European robotics and autonomous systems developer, Milrem Robotics, and the German defence company Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW) have signed a contract to deliver 14 THeMIS unmanned ground vehicles (UGV) to Ukraine.

Of the 14 vehicles, seven will be configured for casualty evacuation (CASEVAC) and are scheduled to be delivered by the end of this year. The other seven, to be delivered in the second quarter of 2023, will be configured for route clearance with payloads from the French defence manufacturer CNIM Systèmes Industriels.

The effort is being funded by the German Ministry of Defence.

“Casualty evacuation and route clearance are two labour-intensive activities that require the engagement of several people who remain in constant threat of enemy fire. Automating these tasks with unmanned vehicles alleviates that danger and allows more soldiers to stay in a safe area or be tasked for more important activities,” explained Captain (res) Jüri Pajuste, Defence R&D Director at Milrem Robotics.

Milrem Robotics delivered one CASEVAC THeMIS to a Ukrainian charitable organization earlier this year that has proven to be a valuable asset.

“The deployment of the THEMIS UGV to Ukraine means that the Ukrainian forces can increase the safety of their soldiers and let the UGVs handle tasks that are an immediate threat to humans. That is the ultimate purpose of robotic systems. Milrem Robotics is proud to be able to contribute to Ukraine’s fight against the aggressor,” said Kuldar Väärsi, CEO of Milrem Robotics.

“This important project gives evidence of our common ability to provide advanced technology to Ukraine. We are determined to support Ukraine with protective and lifesaving equipment. The fast delivery of 14 THeMIS UGVs proves that KMW and Milrem are partners you can rely on,” said Ralf Ketzel, CEO of KMW.

THeMIS is a multi-mission unmanned ground vehicle with an open architecture that enables it to be rapidly configured from having a transport function to being weaponized, performing ordnance disposal or supporting intelligence operations according to the nature of the mission.

The THeMIS UGV is already part of different programs in 16 countries, including eight NATO members: Estonia, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, the UK, and the US.

Posted in Contracts, International, Press Release, Robotics | Comments Off on Milrem Robotics to Deliver 14 THeMIS UGVs to Ukraine in Cooperation with KMW