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New: autonomous reconnaissance vehicle

Feb 15, 2015

This post is also available in: עברית (Hebrew)

A wide range of services and agencies – military and security forces, HLS and so on – find themselves relying on intelligence gathering and reconnaissance systems in the framework of all sorts of missions and scenarios. The same also goes for numerous civilian organization, who rely on ongoing, successive data and info, for instance concerning the level of traffic, environment monitoring, construction sites, etc.

Unmanned systems feature an inherent advantage over manned system, which necessitate putting humans in harm’s way, or add to the work load or mission load of existing teams. Autonomous systems can arrive at emergency sites (post-disaster or hazardous materials, for example). They can thereby relieve other, human teams for even more critical missions or to perform missions in the framework of people are, as yet, irreplaceable.

An Israeli company has recently developed a reconnaissance and intelligence vehicle featuring cutting edge operational capabilities. This autonomous vehicle was designed and manufactured to order, per a contract from a major Israeli defense contractor.

This vehicle is based on a 4X4 platform, in order to enable maneuverability in any environment, including rugged terrain. It comprises numerous and essential innovations, rendering it a truly new reconnaissance vehicle, rather than a traditional observation van. These innovations range from logistic, operational and maintenance survivability to streamlined operation by a small team of two.

The vehicle’s v230 current electric supply comes from a light generator. In addition, there are two deep cycle batteries, which serve as a mobile “battery bank” and can be charged when the car is running, whether during routine or operational modes. The vehicle also features V12 and V24, as well as current stabilization to safeguard sensitive electronic equipment onboard.

Electric pistons serve as vehicle stabilizers. They are capable of detaching it from the ground and level it using an automatic, electronically controlled system. This smart system ’knows’ how to adjust the car’s levelling to different terrains, in accordance with the mission venue. This is a major innovation, since hitherto, observation vehicles have featured heavy, expensive systems of hydraulic pistons. This innovative electric hydraulic system is comes on at a touch of a button in the framework of operational modes.

Reconnaissance vehicles are designed to operate in rugged and remote terrain. For this reason, the design has focused a great deal of attention to operator ergonomics and working environment. The vehicle’s system integrate with several cameras, a radar system and GPS. It also features real-time transmission and relay to a ’man in the loop’.

Aside from its civilian uses, the various security and HLS uses or missions this autonomous vehicle is suited for are many and varied. They range from gather visual intelligence, border patrol, artillery support, target tracking, policing and control. These vehicles can also be armored against light firearms as well as be fitted with reactive armor.