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Posted

A place to discuss non-flying fighting robots (mobile or not).

 

Some previous robot threads:

 

SoKor armed sentry gun - http://www.tank-net.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=32131

 

Quadrapedic (unarmed) robots - http://www.tank-net.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=32085

 

Robot tank - http://www.tank-net.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=28362

Posted

I've been reading about the Russian Taifun-M / Platform-M with some interest. It looks to be of an intermediate size between the smaller MAARS/TALON/SWORD and the larger Black Knight, about the size of a jeep.

 

Its successor, the URP-01g (what an unfortunate name) is to be a little larger, and weigh up to 7 tons.

 

These are remote-controlled for now (by either cable or radio), and carry a 12.7mm machine gun plus grenade launchers.

 

Something I haven't been able to find is information about their power supply. Oblique mention has been made to batteries, but it seems like these are large enough they should be able to fit at least a small combustion engine for turning a generator.

Posted

More likely it's just a setup that works well for maximizing space and keeping tracks easy to get to.

Posted

The hybrid powerpack is inside the tracks. It is basically electric with lithium batteries+ultracaps as storage and a diesel generator to charge it.

Between the "tracks" is just a bed where you can put armament or logistics module. The width of central bed can be varied.

 

 

 

http://www.armyrecognition.com/dsei_2015_news_online_show_daily_coverage_report_u/milrem_unveils_the_first_hybrid_unmanned_tracked_vehicle_at_dsei_the_ugv_type_1_21809153.html

Posted

That's a very interesting design. I like its flexibility, and how it keeps overall size small while maximizing track size (and thus tactical mobility).

 

Diesel + generator + batteries also makes a lot of sense, imo. Like engines for light watercraft and aircraft, little torque is needed when driving a generator, so size and weight of the engine can be kept small relative to its power output. It also means the system's power consumption is not limited to the maximum output capability of the engine, unlike a conventional vehicle. An Abrams' engine puts out 1500 horsepower, so it can use up to 1500 horsepower to drive its treads. A hybrid can discharge its batteries at a higher discharge rate than its engine can produce, until they become discharged.

 

For instance (entirely hypothetical numbers here) if a vehicle's motors can draw up to 74,600 watts (100 horsepower), and carries 150KWh worth of battery capacity, and an engine capable of putting out only 30,000 watts (40 horsepower), then the vehicle would be able to draw 100 horsepower to drive itself for three hours and twenty minutes before having to cut back power consumption. If operations allowed it periods of recuperation between periods of activity, then it could effectively operate at full performance whenever it needed to, recharging its batteries when full performance was not required.

 

It looks like a difficult shape to armor efficiently (putting critical components into two housings instead of one almost doubles the surface area needing armor), but then most of the military robots I've seen so far are only lightly armored or completely unarmored, so it's in good company.

  • 3 weeks later...
Posted

I got to thinking about these and I love the idea but I'm curious as to where do these fit in to overall doctrine? Would they be useful to have accompanying a dismounted foot patrol? What requirements would you set forth for it if you were going to incorporate these (what role would it fulfill, and at what level would they be issued)? Are they a solution in search of a problem or do they fill a real niche for line units now that the technology is catching up? Should they be operated locally, or remotely (ie, like predators with a "crew" stationed at a FOB or someplace else)?

  • 2 months later...
  • 5 weeks later...
  • 1 month later...
Posted (edited)

I got to thinking about these and I love the idea but I'm curious as to where do these fit in to overall doctrine? Would they be useful to have accompanying a dismounted foot patrol? What requirements would you set forth for it if you were going to incorporate these (what role would it fulfill, and at what level would they be issued)? Are they a solution in search of a problem or do they fill a real niche for line units now that the technology is catching up? Should they be operated locally, or remotely (ie, like predators with a "crew" stationed at a FOB or someplace else)?

I've been wondering the same things.

 

One place where they seem useful is sentry duty. Some of them are semi-autonomous, so they could patrol a set path and radio an alarm back to their (presumably sleeping) controllers when they see something or get shot. The controllers could use the UGV to produce fire immediately while the humans kitted up.

 

In an urban setting, the UGV could precede the humans by several feet, providing a peek ahead, drawing fire, and tripping mines.

 

In combat, the human operators could stay behind barriers, exposing the UGV to enemy fire instead of themselves.

 

Local operation seems like a better idea than remote operation, since local operators would have a clearer idea of the situation, and would be on-hand to provide the UGV with assistance (de-ditching it or servicing its weapon and automotive components). Also, if you are going to have infantry going in harm's way on foot anyway, why not let them control it instead of some remote operator? They'd surely appreciate the capabilities and firepower.

Edited by TTK Ciar
  • 5 months later...
Posted

New pictures of Russian Uran-9. Weights 12 tons and armed with 2A72 30mm + 12x tubes. Some report say it can mount either Ataka ATGMS or Shmel rocket launcer/flame throwers.

 

 

 

Posted (edited)

A place to discuss non-flying fighting robots (mobile or not).

 

Some previous robot threads:

 

SoKor armed sentry gun - http://www.tank-net.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=32131

 

 

The idea goes back a few years into the future.......

 

Edited by DougRichards
Posted

Nice stabilization .. watching it go over that speed bump I couldn't see the gun wobble at all.

  • 2 months later...
Posted

Testing underway in Estonia

 

 

 

 

Chains used during live fire tests

 

Today's BREN carrier?

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