Friday, March 30, 2007 1:22:41 PM
TALON Robots: Speed, Simplicity, Standoff
TALON® robots are powerful, durable, lightweight tracked vehicles that are widely used for explosive ordnance disposal (EOD), reconnaissance, communications, hazmat, security, defense and rescue. They have all-weather, day/night and amphibious capabilities and can navigate virtually any terrain.
How are they different from other robots on the market?
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Man-portable -- At less than 100 lb (45 kg), TALON can be easily transported and is instantly ready for operation.
*
Rugged -- TALON robots can take a punch and stay in the fight. One was blown off the roof of a Humvee in Iraq recently while the Humvee was crossing a bridge over a river. TALON flew off the bridge and plunged into the river below. Soldiers later used its operator control unit to drive the robot back out of the river and up onto the bank so they could retrieve it.
*
Fast -- TALON is the fastest robot on the market today with seven speed settings.
*
High payload capacity -- Long-term system versatility optimizes investment. TALON has the highest payload capacity and payload-to-weight ratio, allowing for the incorporation of a broad array of sensor packages.
*
Mobile -- Climbs stairs, negotiates rock piles, overcomes concertina wire, plows through snow and surf.
*
Intuitive -- Easiest robot to operate; joystick controls.
*
Withstand repeated decontamination -- Demonstrated at Ground Zero after 2001 World Trade Center attack in New York City. Electronics withstood 45 straight days of being decontaminated twice a day without failing.
*
Long battery life -- TALON robots have the longest battery life of all man-portable robots.
How are they used?
TALON for EOD/IED Missions (pictured above)
TALON robots have been in continuous, active military service since 2000 when they were successfully used in Bosnia for the safe movement and disposal of live grenades. They were the only American-made robots successfully used at Ground Zero in search and recovery efforts after the Sept. 11 attack on the World Trade Center and the only robots to last through the entire mission without requiring a major repair.
TALON robots were the first robots taken into Afghanistan during action against the Taliban and Osama bin Laden in February 2002. They initially accompanied the Special Forces on a Classified mission, and are still there now doing EOD work. They were on the ground in Kuwait when coalition forces massed in 2003 and have been in Iraq ever since performing EOD/IED (improvised explosive device) missions. TALON robots have now completed more than 20,000 EOD missions in Iraq and Afghanistan.
TALON for Reconnaissance
A smaller, lighter TALON weighing just 60 lb (27 kg) and equipped with a variety of day/night color cameras and sensitive listening devices is ideal for reconnaissance missions. It has all the features of the large TALON, but does not have an arm or gripper.
TALON for Armed Reconnaissance (SWORDS)
TALON robots can be configured with M240 or M249 machine guns or Barrett .50 caliber rifles for armed reconnaissance missions. The system was evaluated by the 5th Special Forces in Iraq and three systems have completed evaluation with the 3rd Infantry Division and will likely deploy to Iraq in 2007. Additional systems are deployed and being evaluated by military units throughout the United States. Alternative weapons, including 40 mm grenade launchers and anti-tank rocket launchers, continue to be evaluated by the U.S. Army.
TALON for HAZMAT First Responders
TALON Hazmat robots have been re-engineered to be even more versatile and adaptable than their predecessors. They use JAUS (Joint Architecture Unmanned Systems) software to make it possible to “plug and play” up to seven sensors mounted on a quick-release universal mounting tray for easy removal. In addition, the personal digital assistant (PDA) at the operator control unit (OCU) has been upgraded to include audio and visual alarms if any of the mounted sensors exceed preset limits, so operators can concentrate on maneuvering the robot and not be distracted by having to constantly monitor the sensors.
TALON Engineer for Combat Engineers
One of the newest members of the TALON family of robots is specially designed to help combat engineers remotely investigate suspicious objects to determine whether or not they are IEDs.
TALON SWAT/MP
TALON's multi-mission family of robots now includes one specifically equipped for scenarios frequently encountered by police SWAT units and MPs in all branches of the military. TALON SWAT/MP can be configured with a multi-shot TASERTM electronic control device with laser dot aiming, a loudspeaker and audio receiver, night vision and thermal cameras and a choice of weapons for a lethal or less-than-lethal response.
For further details on any of these robots, download literature from the list below.
http://www.foster-miller.com/lemming.htm
TALON® robots are powerful, durable, lightweight tracked vehicles that are widely used for explosive ordnance disposal (EOD), reconnaissance, communications, hazmat, security, defense and rescue. They have all-weather, day/night and amphibious capabilities and can navigate virtually any terrain.
How are they different from other robots on the market?
*
Man-portable -- At less than 100 lb (45 kg), TALON can be easily transported and is instantly ready for operation.
*
Rugged -- TALON robots can take a punch and stay in the fight. One was blown off the roof of a Humvee in Iraq recently while the Humvee was crossing a bridge over a river. TALON flew off the bridge and plunged into the river below. Soldiers later used its operator control unit to drive the robot back out of the river and up onto the bank so they could retrieve it.
*
Fast -- TALON is the fastest robot on the market today with seven speed settings.
*
High payload capacity -- Long-term system versatility optimizes investment. TALON has the highest payload capacity and payload-to-weight ratio, allowing for the incorporation of a broad array of sensor packages.
*
Mobile -- Climbs stairs, negotiates rock piles, overcomes concertina wire, plows through snow and surf.
*
Intuitive -- Easiest robot to operate; joystick controls.
*
Withstand repeated decontamination -- Demonstrated at Ground Zero after 2001 World Trade Center attack in New York City. Electronics withstood 45 straight days of being decontaminated twice a day without failing.
*
Long battery life -- TALON robots have the longest battery life of all man-portable robots.
How are they used?
TALON for EOD/IED Missions (pictured above)
TALON robots have been in continuous, active military service since 2000 when they were successfully used in Bosnia for the safe movement and disposal of live grenades. They were the only American-made robots successfully used at Ground Zero in search and recovery efforts after the Sept. 11 attack on the World Trade Center and the only robots to last through the entire mission without requiring a major repair.
TALON robots were the first robots taken into Afghanistan during action against the Taliban and Osama bin Laden in February 2002. They initially accompanied the Special Forces on a Classified mission, and are still there now doing EOD work. They were on the ground in Kuwait when coalition forces massed in 2003 and have been in Iraq ever since performing EOD/IED (improvised explosive device) missions. TALON robots have now completed more than 20,000 EOD missions in Iraq and Afghanistan.
TALON for Reconnaissance
A smaller, lighter TALON weighing just 60 lb (27 kg) and equipped with a variety of day/night color cameras and sensitive listening devices is ideal for reconnaissance missions. It has all the features of the large TALON, but does not have an arm or gripper.
TALON for Armed Reconnaissance (SWORDS)
TALON robots can be configured with M240 or M249 machine guns or Barrett .50 caliber rifles for armed reconnaissance missions. The system was evaluated by the 5th Special Forces in Iraq and three systems have completed evaluation with the 3rd Infantry Division and will likely deploy to Iraq in 2007. Additional systems are deployed and being evaluated by military units throughout the United States. Alternative weapons, including 40 mm grenade launchers and anti-tank rocket launchers, continue to be evaluated by the U.S. Army.
TALON for HAZMAT First Responders
TALON Hazmat robots have been re-engineered to be even more versatile and adaptable than their predecessors. They use JAUS (Joint Architecture Unmanned Systems) software to make it possible to “plug and play” up to seven sensors mounted on a quick-release universal mounting tray for easy removal. In addition, the personal digital assistant (PDA) at the operator control unit (OCU) has been upgraded to include audio and visual alarms if any of the mounted sensors exceed preset limits, so operators can concentrate on maneuvering the robot and not be distracted by having to constantly monitor the sensors.
TALON Engineer for Combat Engineers
One of the newest members of the TALON family of robots is specially designed to help combat engineers remotely investigate suspicious objects to determine whether or not they are IEDs.
TALON SWAT/MP
TALON's multi-mission family of robots now includes one specifically equipped for scenarios frequently encountered by police SWAT units and MPs in all branches of the military. TALON SWAT/MP can be configured with a multi-shot TASERTM electronic control device with laser dot aiming, a loudspeaker and audio receiver, night vision and thermal cameras and a choice of weapons for a lethal or less-than-lethal response.
For further details on any of these robots, download literature from the list below.
http://www.foster-miller.com/lemming.htm
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