It was hot and muggy at the Patuxent River
Naval Air Station’s Webster Field, where Curtis Ellezy
of Engineering TV and I went to keep an eye out for
robots that may have their eyes on you. The demonstrations
were part of the Association for Unmanned
Vehicle Systems International’s Unmanned Systems
North America 2009 show in Washington, D.C.
ROLLING ROBOTS
There were lots of robots on
wheels and tracks, and most were
custom made. QinetiQ North
America’s Applied Perception
takes a different approach by
partnering with Bobcat Co. to
create a simple robotic kit that
temporarily “roboticizes” any
Bobcat Loader with selectable
joystick controls (Fig. 1).
Bobcat’s vehicles are used in
many areas, including Afghanistan,
where the removal of roadside
bombs requires vehicles larger than QinetiQ’s
Talon Explosive Ordinance Disposal robot.
The kit installs in minutes, allowing troops to
remotely unearth and remove large explosives with
minimal risk to human life. The same
approach can be used where vehicles need to
operate in dangerous environments, keeping
operators out of harm’s way.
Near the end of the day, iRobot’s Warrior
carried a Packbot in a marsupial mode
into a mock town. The Warrior dropped the
Packbot through a window to reconnoiter
while it ran around front to lead the charge of military
personnel through the front door.
SWIMMING ROBOTS
The U.S. Navy is equipping submarines with a
range of robotic drones like the General Dynamics
SeaStalker. This torpedo-style unmanned surface
vehicle (USV) specializes in snooping.
Boston Engineering’s GhostSwimmer takes a
more fishy approach (Fig. 2). The mechanics and
dynamics of this tactical, efficient, biomimetic autonomous
“artificial fish” autonomous underwater vehicle
(UAV) mimic biological fish to replicate their highly
efficient swimming mechanism.
This mimicry makes the GhostSwimmer quieter
and harder to detect as well as more efficient and
maneuverable. The robotic fish can control its various
fins in concert, taking advantage of artificial-muscle
style actuators for actuation. It’s built using commercial
off-the-shelf (COTS) technology.
The GhostSwimmer comes from the Boston Engineering
SCOPE project as part of a Phase I Small
Business Technology Transfer (SBTR) grant from
the Office of Naval Research held jointly by Olin
College and Boston Engineering. The Olin College
students designed the maneuverability and sensor
portions of the robot, and Boston Engineering created
the propulsion system.
FLYING ROBOTS
There were plenty of flying robots, including the
American Dynamics compact (4.75 by 17.5 by 14.5
ft) AD-150 vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL)
unmanned aircraft system (UAS). The vertical takeoff
capability allows it to be used on ships with limited
landing areas, but it’s equally at home in land-based
operations (Fig. 3).
The high-torque aerial lift (HTAL) system provides
stable vertical operation as well as high-speed
(300 knots) forward flight. The AD-150 has internal
and external stores with a 500-lb payload. The airframe
is composed of carbon fiber and Kevlar materials.
The control system has dual GPS with inertial
navigation system (INS) support.
Much of my Washington trip will be showing up in
Engineering TV episodes and in my Lab Bench
Online column. Check out www.engineeringTV.com
for our meet and greet with robots and robot designers
along with more details and lots of video.