Small Unmanned Ground Vehicle
Encyclopedia
The XM1216 Small Unmanned Ground Vehicle (SUGV) is a Future Combat Systems
specific, man packable (< 30 pounds (13.6 kg)) version of the iRobot's
PackBot
.
(UGV) capable of conducting military operations in urban terrain, tunnels, sewers, and caves. The SUGV aids in the performance of manpower-intensive or high-risk functions (i.e. urban Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions, chemical/Toxic Industrial Chemicals (TIC), Toxic Industrial Materials (TIM), reconnaissance, etc.).
Working to minimize Soldiers' exposure directly to hazards, the SUGV's modular design allows multiple payloads to be integrated in a plug-and-play fashion. Weighing less than 29 pounds (13.2 kg), it is capable of carrying up to 6 pounds (2.7 kg) of payload weight.
The XM1216 can either be remotely manned, or manipulated through use of a Microsoft
Xbox 360
gamepad
fitted with speciality drivers. This allows full control of the unit, otherwise unavailable through a conventional joystick.
The SUGV is part of Spin Out 1 and has entered evaluation at the Army Evaluation Task Force (AETF). It will be fielded to IBCTs starting in 2011.
Future Combat Systems
Future Combat Systems was the United States Army's principal modernization program from 2003 to early 2009. Formally launched in 2003, FCS was envisioned to create new brigades equipped with new manned and unmanned vehicles linked by an unprecedented fast and flexible battlefield network...
specific, man packable (< 30 pounds (13.6 kg)) version of the iRobot's
IRobot
iRobot Corporation is an American advanced technology company founded in 1990 and incorporated in Delaware in 2000, the iRobot Corporation designs robots such as an autonomous home vacuum cleaner , the Scooba that scrubs and cleans hard floors, and military and police robots, such as the PackBot...
PackBot
PackBot
PackBot is a series of military robots by iRobot. More than 2000 PackBots are currently on station in Iraq and Afghanistan, with hundreds more on the way.-Current PackBot 510 variants:...
.
Description
The XM1216 Small Unmanned Ground Vehicle (SUGV) is a lightweight, man portable Unmanned Ground VehicleUnmanned ground vehicle
An unmanned ground vehicle is a military robot used to augment the soldiers capability. This type of robot is generally capable of operating outdoors and over a wide variety of terrain, functioning in place of humans....
(UGV) capable of conducting military operations in urban terrain, tunnels, sewers, and caves. The SUGV aids in the performance of manpower-intensive or high-risk functions (i.e. urban Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions, chemical/Toxic Industrial Chemicals (TIC), Toxic Industrial Materials (TIM), reconnaissance, etc.).
Working to minimize Soldiers' exposure directly to hazards, the SUGV's modular design allows multiple payloads to be integrated in a plug-and-play fashion. Weighing less than 29 pounds (13.2 kg), it is capable of carrying up to 6 pounds (2.7 kg) of payload weight.
The XM1216 can either be remotely manned, or manipulated through use of a Microsoft
Microsoft
Microsoft Corporation is an American public multinational corporation headquartered in Redmond, Washington, USA that develops, manufactures, licenses, and supports a wide range of products and services predominantly related to computing through its various product divisions...
Xbox 360
Xbox 360
The Xbox 360 is the second video game console produced by Microsoft and the successor to the Xbox. The Xbox 360 competes with Sony's PlayStation 3 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles...
gamepad
Gamepad
A gamepad , is a type of game controller held in two hands, where the digits are used to provide input. Gamepads generally feature a set of action buttons handled with the right thumb and a direction controller handled with the left...
fitted with speciality drivers. This allows full control of the unit, otherwise unavailable through a conventional joystick.
The SUGV is part of Spin Out 1 and has entered evaluation at the Army Evaluation Task Force (AETF). It will be fielded to IBCTs starting in 2011.
External links
- Army Unveils High-Tech Future Combat Systems
- Visit to iRobot and hands on with SUGV The Sunday TimesThe Sunday TimesThe Sunday Times is a British Sunday newspaper.The Sunday Times may also refer to:*The Sunday Times *The Sunday Times *The Sunday Times *The Sunday Times...
31 May 2009, Mark Harris