N101-050 TITLE: Man Transportable Robotic System (MTRS) Remote Digger and Hammer Chisel

TECHNOLOGY AREAS: Ground/Sea Vehicles

ACQUISITION PROGRAM: PMS-408 Joint Service Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD), Man Transportable

OBJECTIVE: Develop a remote digger/hammer/chisel for the Man Transportable Robotic System (MTRS) to uncover ordnance and Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) encased in earth or concrete.

DESCRIPTION: Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) operators require the capability to dig into hard packed soil and break up concrete with the MTRS. The MTRS is the number one tool used by EOD operators in their mission to inspect and render safe ordnance and Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) on the battlefield. The digger/hammer/chisel is needed because opposing forces mask IEDs and ordnance in packed soil or concrete curbs, buildings, and barriers.

The remote digger and chisel tool must be suitable for use on the MTRS. There are two robots under Government configuration control that are part of MTRS, the Robot, EOD, MK 1 MOD 0 and the Robot, EOD, MK 2 MOD 0. MTRS is based on two commercially available robotic systems, the iRobot Packbot™ and the Foster-Miller Talon™. Currently, there is little difference physically between the commercial and government configuration controlled versions, but these differences are subject to change. The Government will allow successful offerors limited access to the MTRS platforms based on priority and availability of the assets. Requesting companies should propose a universal solution that interfaces with either MTRS platform.

Currently EOD personnel use explosives to access IEDs concealed or buried in hard packed soils or concrete too hard for already available earth scraper tools to excavate. Using explosives is not ideal due to collateral damage inflicted on the surrounding area by the unearthing charge and/or the IED if detonated.

The innovation required is the design and development of a lightweight, robust, reliable impact tool suitable for use with the MTRS. The tool should be remotely activated by the robot operator via either MTRS Operator Control Unit (OCU). The tool should universally interface with either MTRS platform, be easily removable at the user level, and negligibly affect the baseline performance of the MTRS.

The tool must be capable of unearthing buried ordnance and breaking up concrete within reach of the manipulators to expose concealed ordnance without causing the ordnance to detonate. The tool must generate the required force without damage to the MTRS.

The design is bounded by the footprint of the MTRS and lift capacity of the manipulators. The iRobot Packbot™ weighs approximately 60 lb. and the Foster-Miller Talon™ weighs approximately 120 lb. Both robots have a lift capacity of 15 lbs. at limited manipulator extension. The MTRS has a runtime requirement of two hours in a simulated operational scenario. The proposed tool must not degrade the runtime of the system below the two hour requirement. Required power for the proposed tool could be provided by either a standalone power source mounted on the MTRS or pulled directly from the MTRS provided it still meets the runtime requirement. These severe platform restrictions are too severe for any available off the shelf solution and will require new innovative approaches to the problem. Additionally, the final design should accent manufacturability and identify mean time between failures.

PHASE I: Design and model a tool capable of being carried by the MTRS that enables remote digging into packed soil and breaking up of concrete.

PHASE II: Design, build, test, and rework the prototype tool to produce a reliable, robust 2nd generation prototype with manufacturability in mind. Deliver multiple tools to the Naval Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technology Division (NAVEODTECHDIV) for system level test and evaluation.

PHASE III: Following successful T&E the final product would become an approved accessory for the MTRS and a fielding and support package would be formulated.

PRIVATE SECTOR COMMERCIAL POTENTIAL/DUAL-USE APPLICATIONS: One commercial application would be civilian bomb squads and first responders that use commercial equivalents of the MTRS. These commercial equivalents are the iRobot Packbot™ and the Foster-Miller Talon™.

REFERENCES:
1. http://www.irobot.com/sp.cfm?pageid=325

2. http://www.foster-miller.com/lemming.htm

KEYWORDS: Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD); the Man Transportable Robotic System (MTRS); Improvised Explosive Device (IED); robot; impact tool; buried ordnance

** TOPIC AUTHOR (TPOC) **

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