Mobile Dexterous Robot for Field Applications

Off road vehicles outfitted with a pair of dexterous manipulators that are capable of performing complex inspection and manipulation tasks in the field under remote control will be of great benefit in combat engineering and infantry assault applications, such as the automated construction of revetments, point surveillance and reconnaissance, ammunition resupply to troops on the line, and battlefield search and rescue operations. Mobile dexterous robots address certain important commercial and civil requirements, as well, including remote bomb handling and disposal, and emergency search and rescue in hazardous environments. Many of the enabling technologies for such advanced mobile robot systems, including designs for versatile off road vehicles, manipulators with human arm like dexterity and state-of-the-art telerobotic control systems, have already been demonstrated independently in previous research. This proposed development program focuses on the integration of these technologies in a prototype system that can be mass-produced to address the requirements of both military and commercial users. The Phase I effort will result in a comprehensive design specification for the mechanical and control hardware and the control algorithms that will be incorporated in the system. Phase II will result in the implementation and demonstration of the mobile dexterous robot prototype. Complex manipulation in hazardous field environments by remote control: Military- (1) Automated construction of revetments. (2) Battlefield point surveillance and reconnaisance (3) Battlefield search and rescue missions. Civil- (1) Remote bomb handling and disposal. (2) Emergency search and rescue.