Israeli defense company Elbit Systems and Tel Aviv-based robotics start-up Roboteam launched on Tuesday an "Unmanned Ground Vehicle" that features a built-in autonomy suite offering a combination of greater capacity and improved maneuverability.
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The ROOK UGV, a multi-payload military 6X6, was developed based on the operational experience accumulated from fielding the 4x4 PROBOT UGV systems in several countries including the US, France, Israel and the UK.
The ROOK also has no need for qualified technicians or OEM (original equipment manufacturer) lab maintenance.
The vehicle is fully autonomous and capable of efficiently navigating rough terrain in both day and night to deliver supplies, evacuate casualties, perform intelligence gathering missions (including by dispatching on-board VTOLs – vertical take-off and landing aircraft), and operate as a remote weapon system.
📢Introducing ROOK! A new multi-payload 6X6 Unmanned Ground Vehicle (UGV): Autonomous Follow-me/Go-to Mode, ISR capabilities, remotely operated weapon station, #Medevac and more 👇 https://t.co/kefr2STRwB @Roboteam_Inc 🤖 pic.twitter.com/h6mAsVitQE
— Elbit Systems (@ElbitSystemsLtd) November 16, 2021
It has sophisticated sensors that can distinguish soldiers and follow them in the field despite obstacles or terrain changes.
ROOK is capable of carrying up to 1,200kg (2,645 pounds) of payload while maintaining superior maneuverability and transferability.
Yoav Poizner, Elbit's head of business development, said the ROOK is the next step to enable "everything that happens in the sky" using drones and aerial robots to occur on the ground as well.
"If you want to send robots where you don't want to send soldiers, you need a solution for that," said Elad Levy, CEO and founder of Roboteam.
"It has built-in autonomy and built-in artificial intelligence that provides a full solution," the Levy said. "Without that level of sophistication, you would not want to rely on it in the field."
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