Integrating AEA Technology’s hydraulic Raptor manipulator with API’s unmanned Gator vehicle

Customer: National Center for Defense Robotics
Role: Subcontractor
Partners: AEA Technology; Nabco, Inc.
Duration: 11/2005 – 6/2006
Purpose: Integration of a complete JAUS-compliant mobile manipulator system for IED and explosives disposal
Technologies: Hydraulic multi-degree-of-freedom manipulator; unmanned ground vehicle; JAUS messaging standard
Capabilities: IED disposal, EOD applications, JAUS-compliance

Description: The goal of this project was to fully integrate AEA Technology’s hydraulic Raptor manipulator with API’s unmanned Gator vehicle. Control of the hydraulic arm is compliant with the Joint Architecture for Unmanned Systems (JAUS) messaging standard. An operator can remotely control both the arm’s functions and vehicle motion simultaneously resulting in a very versatile system for EOD and other explosive disposal missions.

The Raptor manipulator and JAUS-compliant control software were then integrated with a vehicle provided by Nabco, Inc. that is designed for bomb disposal applications. All devices on the vehicle including the arm, tracks, door and door lock are controllable through JAUS-compliant messages. This means that any other Operator Control Unit that is JAUS-compliant can operate this system.