SRTK - Small Robot Tool Kit

Customer: U.S. Army Tank-Automotive Research, Development and Engineering Center (TARDEC)
Role: Prime Contractor
Partners: RoPro Design
Duration: 11/2005 – 5/2006
Purpose: Develop a suite of simple, low-cost, reliable tools and accessories for small unmanned ground vehicles.
Technologies: Manipulation, end-effectors, user interfaces
Capabilities: Reconfigurable degrees of freedom, quick disconnect for end-effectors, customizable Operator Control Unit

Description: The use of small unmanned ground vehicles for both military and civilian operations is rapidly growing, and the demand for more functionality of their payloads is increasing. To address this need, this Phase I SBIR effort focused on designing, developing, and implementing the mechanical, electrical, and software subsystems for a suite of tools and accessories that can be used on small robot platforms for various tasks. These tasks include grasping and carrying small items, drilling, sawing, digging and dozing. Key design requirements for the toolkit were modularity for easily interchanging tools, simplicity, and low cost. The latter was particularly important in order for this toolkit to be affordable by domestic homeland organizations like police and fire units.

The final Phase I design resulted in a small manipulator that can be reconfigured with one, two, or three degrees of freedom. Tools and accessories include several gripper designs, a mount to accept COTS cordless power tools, and an attachment to carry a bomb disruptor. The toolkit was designed to be easily mounted on several different small robot platforms. The on-board control software and user interface software automatically detects which tool is currently in use, and presents the operator with the appropriate commands and controls. The operator can configure a COTS gaming device to control the toolkit’s various functions.