XM1216 Small Unmanned Ground Vehicle

Small Unmanned Ground Vehicle
Small Unmanned Ground Vehicle
Type	Unmanned Ground Vehicle
Place of origin	United States
Specifications
Weight	29 pounds (13 kg)

The XM1216 Small Unmanned Ground Vehicle (SUGV) is a Future Combat Systems specific, man packable (< 30 pounds (14 kg)) version of the iRobot's PackBot.

Description

The XM1216 Small Unmanned Ground Vehicle (SUGV) is a lightweight, man portable Unmanned Ground Vehicle (UGV) capable of conducting military operations in urban terrain, tunnels, sewers, and caves. The SUGV aids in the performance of manpower-intensive or high-risk functions (i.e. urban Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions, chemical/Toxic Industrial Chemicals (TIC), Toxic Industrial Materials (TIM), reconnaissance, etc.).

Working to minimize Soldiers' exposure directly to hazards, the SUGV's modular design allows multiple payloads to be integrated in a plug and play fashion. Weighing less than 29 pounds (13 kg), it is capable of carrying up to 6 pounds (2.7 kg) of payload weight.

The XM1216 can either be remotely manned, or manipulated through use of a Microsoft Xbox 360 gamepad fitted with speciality drivers. This allows full control of the unit, otherwise unavailable through a conventional joystick. . Alternatively a ruggedized controller known as Small HaWC (HArm's Way Controller), more suited to combat environments may be used in place of the Xbox 360 controller.

The SUGV is part of Spin Out 1 and has entered evaluation at the Army Evaluation Task Force (AETF). It will be fielded to IBCTs starting in 2011.

In February 2012, the Army announced their intention to issue a sole-source contract to iRobot for the XM1216 Small Unmanned Ground Vehicle (SUGV) Robotic System. The contract is for developing, supporting, and testing hardware and software related to the XM1216.^[1]

Gallery

Note the Xbox 360 controller held by the operator (click for larger picture)
Alternative SUGV controller
A robotics technician assigned to the Bahraini Special Security Force (BSSF) trains soldiers on the SUGV

References

Notes

↑ US Army Select iRobot for Sole-Source UGV Contract - Unmanned.co.uk, February 27, 2012

Sources

US Army site : SUGV

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Small Unmanned Ground Vehicle.

Army Unveils High-Tech Future Combat Systems
Visit to iRobot and hands on with SUGV The Sunday Times 31 May 2009, Mark Harris

iRobot

Home robots	Roomba Scooba Create Looj Mint Mirra Verro

Military robots	PackBot SUGV Warrior Seaglider R-Gator Ranger Negotiator Transphibian FirstLook

Discontinued products	Dirt Dog My Real Baby

BCT Modernization capability packages

Early Infantry Brigade Combat Team Capability Package	Future Force Warrior Network XM156 Class I UAV XM501 Non-Line-of-Sight Launch System Unattended Ground Sensors XM1216 Small Unmanned Ground Vehicle

Follow On Incremental Capabilities	Common Controller XM157 Class IV UAV Ground Combat Vehicle Program: IFV Multifunctional Utility/Logistics and Equipment vehicle: XM1219 ARV XM1218 Countermine XM1217 Transport

Future Combat Systems Subsystems

The Future Force Warrior The Network

Manned Ground Vehicles	XM1201 Reconnaissance and Surveillance Vehicle XM1202 Mounted Combat System XM1203 Non-Line-of-Sight Cannon XM1204 Non-Line-of-Sight Mortar XM1205 Recovery and Maintenance Vehicle XM1206 Infantry Carrier Vehicle XM1207 Medical Vehicle-Evacuation XM1208 Medical Vehicle-Treatment XM1209 Command and Control Vehicle

Unmanned Ground Vehicles	XM1216 SUGV MULE

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles	XM156 Class I UAV Class II UAV Class III UAV XM157 Class IV UAV

Devices	Non-Line-of-Sight Launch System Unattended Ground Sensors Intelligent Munitions System

This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Army.