Applied Perception develop ordnance neutralization system
Applied Perception develop ordnance neutralization system
Applied Perception Incorporated (API) of Pittsburgh, PA along with Northrop Grumman, have been awarded a nearly one million dollar (USD) contract by the National Center for Defense Robotics to develop advanced autonomy capabilities for the Semiautonomous Robotic Ordnance Neutralization System (SARONS). SARONS is a robot used in military operations for handling enemy explosive devices.
The contract calls for API and the Northrop Grumman division, Remotec, (NGR)to develop software and hardware to provide for more precise robot movement,enhanced obstacle detection and avoidance and more integrated functioning with the operator control. The goal is to ease both training and the operator mission workload while improving robot safety when in close proximity to explosive devices.
A broad range of navigation and obstacle sensors will be evaluated. Previous research has shown that some system designers have opted to employ only sensors they were familiar with and not necessarily the best sensor for the task. The goal for this phase is to improving capability while reducing device cost and complexity.
In reducing the mission workload, the goal is to improve the awareness of the operator to the total environment while directing the SARONS. The operator will be able to establish the objective and the robot will be able to accomplish more of the mission autonomously, freeing the operator for situation awareness time. The operator will not have to watch real time for obstructions to be avoided;rather the robot will on its own avoid such problems.
A third goal is to provide the operator with capability to command SARONS action in an exact manner rather than a fully interactive mode. For example, the operator could specify a move forward of exactly four inches rather than trying to jog the robot forward while watching the live video image of the movement.
Graduates of the Carnegie Mellon University founded API in 2001. It focuses on developments in advanced unmanned vehicle technologies. The National Center for Defense Robotics is a federally funded initiative in support of national defense services.
