RE2 Robotics Wins $2.9 Million U.S. Air Force Contract to Develop a Rapid Airfield Damage Recovery Robotic System
RE2 to develop a drop-in manipulation system to utilize existing ground vehicles as robots
PITTSBURGH, PA - April 10, 2018 - RE2 Robotics announced today that the Company received a $2.9 million Phase III Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) award to develop a drop-in robotic kit, which will enable the Air Force to use existing construction ground vehicles as robotic vehicles during clean-up efforts after an airfield strike.
Currently, most robotic kits require intrusive fitting into electronic systems within a vehicle, thus requiring long installation times and limiting future manned operation of the equipment. As such, RE2 is developing a new drop-in system that can provide real-time switching between manned and remotely manned operation of large construction vehicles found within the civil engineering toolbox, such as wheeled loaders and telehandlers. The objective is to develop a viable in-cab telepresence solution that will rapidly adapt to a variety of operation requirements depending upon the type of vehicle.
The program, called Rapid Airfield Damage Recovery-Teleoperated (RADR-T), is the Companys second program with the Air Force to develop a drop-in robotic system to enhance the capabilities of existing military-owned vehicles. The Company is also designing an aircraft retrofit kit that leverages existing aviation assets and advances in vehicle automation technologies to develop a cutting-edge, drop-in robotic flight system.
"The RADR-T program utilizes our teams expertise in developing manipulation systems for existing military assets and establishes the company as a leading provider of drop-in robotic kits," stated Jorgen Pedersen, president and CEO of RE2 Robotics. "By creating the capability to easily turn construction vehicles into robotic systems without losing the integrity of the original man-drive vehicle, the personnel responsible for conducting the dangerous mission of airfield damage recovery will soon have the ability to perform their jobs at a safe distance, when necessary."
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About RE2 Robotics
RE2 Robotics is dedicated to developing technology that saves lives and improves quality of life. RE2s mobile robotic technologies enable robot users to remotely interact with their world from a safe distance -- whether on the ground, in the air, or underwater. RE2 creates interoperable robotic manipulator arms with human-like performance, intuitive human robot interfaces, and advanced autonomy software for mobile robotics. For more information, please visit www.resquared.com or call 412.681.6382.
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