Ground-Breaking Personal Mobility Solution Tested by Israel Police

Ground-Breaking Personal Mobility Solution Tested by Israel Police

Photo by DSRaider 1

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A ground-breaking Israeli development is currently undergoing a testing and confirmation process by the Israel Police – a four-wheeled tactical vehicle, the EZRaider. The DSRaider company is offering an innovative personal mobility solution for a wide range of missions by police and law enforcement, HLS (internal security), the military, home front command, and for any scenario of search and rescue, equipment transportation, injured evacuation, etc.

Chief Superintendent Amit Lifschitz, Head of Mechanics, Protection and Weapons Dept./ MAFAT/ Technology and C4I Branch, the vehicle will widen the envelope of the operational capabilities of the various units of the Israel Police, which has been making constant efforts in order to implement advanced technological solutions based on an innovative and open approach. 

MAFAT (Technological Systems Development Dept.) headed by Commander Ofer Shenhav, is a department within the framework of the Technology and Teleprocessing Branch. It is responsible for the deployment of new measures and technologies at the Israel police in order to improve the operational response of the Police in its war against crime, terrorism and road accidents, and as result – to improve citizen services.

MAFAT operates in three major ways:

  • Identifies operational needs and develops the appropriate technology
  • Upgrades and changes existing equipment according to the police needs
  • Tests the operational suitability of an off-the-shelf product 

The EZRaider electric vehicle constitutes a new category in the vehicle field. The vehicle can carry two policemen and can be attached to a cart capable of carrying up to a 250 kg payload, designed for the logistical supply of ammunition, water and equipment, injured evacuation with a and other needs.

The compact vehicle demonstrating exceptional maneuverability has many advantages, including high speed (up to 40 km h), driving 4-5 hours on a single charge, a very low noise signature and an impressive navigability in various terrains, e.g. sidewalks, stairs, sand, deep mud, water paths and more, which enable response to a wide range of operational scenarios. The fact that two officers can use one vehicle is just another advantage, in comparison to electric bicycles, for example.

MAFAT, in collaboration with the police’s Transportation Department, has conducted a testing process in order to check the vehicle’s capabilities, performance envelope, suitability with operational needs, and, of course, the reliability of the automotive systems and the body of the vehicle.

The vehicle use was tested by various units, including the Israel Border Police, whose commander, Maj. Gen. Kobi Shabtai was part of the development process, contributing to a large extent from his operational experience.

Photo by DSRaider

Photo by DSRaider

“The vehicle excels in rapid and discreet arrival to the scene and its unique navigability and accessibility”, adds Chief Superintendent Lifschitz. “The vehicle is capable of climbing to observation posts, rocky hills, conduct a swift chase, and pass urban obstacles such as stairs, beach sand, and more.”

Indeed, an alert regarding a pickpocket operating at the beach just during the testing process in Tel-Aviv was responded by the vehicle’s arrival at the scene within one minute, and thanks to its navigability capabilities in harsh terrain the policemen succeeded in arresting the pickpocket in action.

The various use cases of the vehicle could include urban patrol – on the street, along the promenade, at the beach, missions that will require higher visibility, e.g. by adding flashing lights. On the other hand, special units operations will require low noise signature.

Photo by DSRaider

EZRaider was also tested from the aspects of automation, navigability, mechanics, etc., and was granted a professional approval regarding the perfection of all its systems by Magal Engineering.

Safety and the correct usage of the vehicle were regarded as first priority by the police. During the process, a training program was set and operational tests were executed, including the testing of the vehicle’s performance envelope from the aspects of safety and capabilities. 

A dedicated training and instruction array was formed, in collaboration with the police Transportation Department headed by Commander Ya’akov Lazar. The Department is responsible for the instruction, training, and engineering testing, and is part of the testing process all along the way. Until now, the vehicle had zero faults. 

MAFAT submitted its conclusions to the organization, and a process began in order to check the possibility of police use of the vehicle, including instruction, maintenance, training, and of course – an operational concept.

According to MAFAT, the company has collaborated with the police in any possible way, has been responsive to all its needs, and has demonstrated flexibility during the complex process of integrating new technology in the police.