http://www.dsti.net/Information/News/67752
新加坡陸軍展示新型無人地面車輛
2011-05-20
    [據美國《陸軍技術》2011年5月19日報導]    新加坡陸軍於近日展示了一種新型無人地面車輛（unmanned ground vehicle，UGV）——“衝鋒”（Rush）演示樣車，期望滿足陸軍未來的作戰需求。無人地面車輛由新加坡的國家防務研究與開發組織——DSO研發，以增強新加坡陸軍的作戰能力以及防護潛在的威脅。

    “衝鋒”無人地面車輛演示樣車設計用於執行多種任務，例如向前戰術監視；核生化及爆炸物防禦；作戰支持，甚至包括傷患後送。無人地面車輛重量為40千克，可支持兩個模組化任務有效載荷，光電/紅外攝像機以及機械臂和鉗子有效載荷，可用於拆除爆炸物和即時戰術偵察。新加坡陸軍計畫立足于成功研製該演示樣車，全面啟動機器人的研發工作。 （北方科技資訊研究所 孫毅）

http://www.defpro.com/news/details/24605/?SID=f9f94656b6082ab4cd6ec2902226da64
Singapore unveils new UGV: Versatile robot ally for the future

07:26 GMT, May 18, 2011 Unmanned Ground Vehicles (UGVs), or simply "robots" in lay man terms, are fast shaping the way developed militaries conduct operations. Unlike Unmanned Aerial Vehicles which enable commanders to make key strategic decisions faster and with more accuracy, UGVs are valuable assets in another way.

The Army recently unveiled the Rush Demonstrator UGV which aims to address requirements for a future spectrum of operations.

Before the advent of UGVs, repetitive and tedious tasks such as mine clearance and casualty evacuation required sizeable manpower. Imagine an asset which can work autonomously, constantly sweeping the ground to detect and remove land mines, or an automated system that transports wounded soldiers to the nearest medical post.

That asset, comes in the form of a UGV which the United States and North Atlantic Treaty Organisation countries have used to great effect in Iraq and Afghanistan. To put it simply, UGVs proved their worth in performing repetitive but highly dangerous tasks that a soldier would be subjected to as combat operations progress.

BUILDING ON SUCCESS

After achieving success in developing amini-UAV, DSO proceeded to take up the role of developing a UGV to meet the Army's operational needs. To enhance their capacity to support the Singapore Armed Forces' exploration into UGVs for future force development, DSO developed a UGV with a much higher payload capacity for integrated payloads, as well as towed or dragged loads.

Dubbed the "Rush" for its comparatively fast ground speed, the UGV is designed to be a highly robust and deployable system that can potentially cover multiple roles such as forward tactical surveillance, Chemical, Biological,Radiological and Explosive defence, combat support, and even casualty evacuation.

It is currently designed to support two modular mission payloads, the Electro-Optical/Infrared Camera and the Manipulator Arm and Gripper, which are within the maximum allowable payload weight.

PERFORMANCE FOR THE FUTURE

The Rush Demonstrator, which weighs about 40kg, has successfully demonstrated the capacity to carry a 30kg load. It can also tow a 60kg trolley and drag a 30kg load by the rear.

To achieve this impressive power-to-weight ratio for a UGV of this weight class, the design team built the platform using high torque electric motors, which also allow the system to move at a maximum ground speed of 7km per hour.

The system has successfully completed environmental-worthiness tests and demonstrated several engineering innovations by DSO, such as a form-specific integrated circuit board design, common payload connectors and integrated heat sinks.

With its Electro-Optical Camera and Manipulator Arm, the Rush Demonstrator can support certain explosive ordnance disposal tasks and real-time tactical surveillance.

SURPASSING EXPECTATIONS

While the team had set out to explore what could be achieved within the local defence science ecosystem, what they eventually came up with exceeded even their own expectations, said Captain (CPT) Gilbert Foo, Weapons Staff Officer, Army Systems Integration Office and officer-in-charge of the Rush Demonstrator Project.

Following the Rush Demonstrator's success, the Army will proceed to go into full-scale development, which will be applied to niche applications.

Robotics are expected to be next revolution in military affairs because of the benefits provided by such systems in countering insurgency warfare. The realisation of key enablers promoting the use of UGVs, such as better networks, artificial intelligence and more efficient approaches to power and energy all make UGVs a viable option for the future, said Colonel (COL) Tan Chor Kiat, Chief Systems Integration Officer.

"We want to position ourselves favourably to capitalise on this potential game changer as this technology matures,"
said COL Tan.

With so much going for the platform, its future is bright. According to CPT Foo, the Rush Demonstrator has been used in several studies. One example: the 2nd Singapore Infantry Regiment tried the system as part of tactics development under the Army's infantry motorisation studies.

"The study told us a lot about what is needed in a UGV and what isn't, for a particular group and we will leave it to further studies to indicate if something like Rush Demonstrator is needed," added CPT Foo when asked about the system's future.