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Home Front: Tech

Advanced Sniper Detection System For iRobot PackBot Unveiled

2005-10-05

iRobot and The Photonics Center at Boston University have introduced a tactical sensory system payload prototype, dubbed REDOWL, for the combat-proven iRobot PackBot robot. REDOWL, or Robot Enhanced Detection Outpost with Lasers, can detect and locate snipers and mortars on the very first shot fired at personnel or vehicles. The REDOWL equipped PackBot has been field-tested for the Army's Rapid Equipping Force at a rifle and trapshooting range. Of the more than 150 rounds fired from 9 mm pistols, M-16 and AK-47 rifles from over 100 meters, the REDOWL system located the source of the gunfire successfully 94 percent of the time. The iRobot PackBot is a Tactical Mobile Robot that can be hand-carried and deployed by a single soldier. "Snipers have had the advantage of being effectively invisible -- making them a deadly threat on the battlefield and in urban settings," said Vice Admiral Joe Dyer (U.S. Navy, Ret.), executive vice president and general manager, iRobot Government & Industrial Robots. "REDOWL is a mobile system, which means snipers can run but they cannot hide anymore."

Posted by:DanNY

#5 Oops. Just skimmed the headline. It is still an acoustic system for target detection and classification, with secondary infrared and daylight cameras for target recognition, and GPS and laser illuminator for target designation.

Laser-based sniper detection system unveiled for army robot
The iRobot PackBot is a Tactical Mobile Robot that can be hand-carried and deployed by a single soldier. REDOWL features an array of optics and acoustic detection systems including a laser pointer and illuminator, acoustic localizer and classifier, thermal imager, GPS positioning, an infrared and daylight camera and two wide-angle cameras. When integrated with the PackBot, these systems enable the robot to accurately detect, locate and identify the origination point of hostile gunfire. These systems also make REDOWL ideal for day and night urban surveillance, reconnaissance, hostage/barricade situations, forward observation outposts and perimeter protection missions.

REDOWL features an Acoustic Direction Finding (ADF) system developed by BioMimetic Systems. The ADF is based on advanced "neural circuits" emulating human hearing and provides accurate detection and bearing information in high background noise environments.

Posted by: ed 2005-10-05 13:51

#4 Ed, this doesn't appear to be an acoustic system, but I don't know what the laser reference is about so it might be. The sniper detection systems that I've seen are either acoustic, thermal or radar-based technologies. They also tend to be rather too large to be accomodated by a Pacbot.

Perhaps the Pacbot carries an acoustic receiver and transmits the directional coordinates of the shot via a laser signal. Still, it relies on other systems or individuals to respond. Better option is incorporating this onto the Foster-Miller TALON robot. That one carries a weapon and can respond directly.

Posted by: remoteman 2005-10-05 13:41

#3 Shots, mortars, any sound are detected by the same method, time difference of arrival at known positions (the microphones). Then use triangulation to get shooter position. Use a time window to filter out echos.

Posted by: ed 2005-10-05 13:09

#2 ...can detect and locate snipers and mortars on the very first shot..
They reported testing against pistols and rifles, but not mortars. Shoddy testing or shoddy reporting?

Posted by: Penguin 2005-10-05 11:06

#1 If it works 94% of the time - and yields null results when it fails, due to echoes or whatever, then field it, and develop a direct feed of the location data to other systems for auto-counter-fire. It's time to hear that a GMLRS responds to a local data signal with a pinpoint hit - from an FOB 30km or 40km away.

Posted by: .com 2005-10-05 10:01

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