FOSTER MILLER TALON OPERATIONS Bryan Mason Professor Fang MIS 304

What is FOSTER MILLER? Foster-Miller, Inc., is a technology and product development company with an international reputation for delivering and supporting innovative products and systems that perform under the most demanding conditions.

Family of Military Robots Products & Services Family of Military Robots Dragon Runner™ (15 to 50 lb) TALON® (80 to180 lb) MAARS™ (300 to 400 lb) TAGS-CX (5,000 to 6,000 lb) TALON Ground Robotics includes four “families” of Robots Easily distinguished by size: small, medium, large and extra large All controlled with one new Digital Control Unit (DCU)

How are TALON robots different from other robots on the market? Man-portable -- easily transported. Rugged -- TALON robots are built to last. Fast -- TALON is the fastest robot on the market. High payload capacity -- Long-term system versatility optimizes investment. Mobile -- Climbs stairs, negotiates rock piles, plows through snow. Intuitive -- Easiest robot to operate; joystick controls; quad screen display. Outstanding situational awareness -- Can hold up to four color cameras. Withstands repeated decontamination – Can withstand many decontaminations. Long battery life -- Has the longest battery life of all man-portable robots. Best service history -- Easy to maintain and sustain.

Handheld Version of SURC OCU/Robot Communications Soldier Universal Robot Controller Software Handheld Version of SURC SURC User Interface Software program SURC enables the following capabilities: • Seamless integration between operators and multiple unmanned assets • Automatic discovery of available unmanned assets in the network and their capabilities • Command and control using MIL-STD symbology and mission creation lexicon • User-replaceable software modules to add additional tactical, user interface, control capabilities. OCU/Robot Communications Wireless Options • Digital data/analog video (standard), 500 to 800m line of sight (LOS) digital video (optional) • High gain antenna (optional) extends range to 1200m LOS Fiber Optics • Buffered cable 300m

Dragon Runner™ (15 to 50 lb) Originally developed for the U.S. Marines Weighs 14 lb and measures 12.2 x 16.6 x 6 in Gives user’s the ability to “see around corners” Can add treads, flippers, cameras, sensors, and/or arms Can be used for under vehicle inspections, to climb buildings, etc.

TALON® (80 to180 lb) Controlled through a two-way radio or fiber optic line OCU (Operator Control Unit) can be portable or wearable One of the fastest robots, easily keeps pace with a running soldier Can travel through sand, water, and snow (up to 100 feet deep) as well as climb stairs Transmits in color, black/white, infrared, and/or night vision to its operator up to 1,000 m

(Modular Advanced Armed Robotic System) MAARS™ (300 to 400 lb) (Modular Advanced Armed Robotic System) Uses the more powerful M240B medium machine gun MAARS is a ROV (remotely operated vehicle) Significant improvements in command and control, situational awareness, maneuverability, mobility, and safety, compared to its predecessor MAARS is not autonomous

(Tactical Amphibious Ground Support System - Common eXperimental) TAGS-CX (5,000 to 6,000 lb) (Tactical Amphibious Ground Support System - Common eXperimental) The overall TAGS-CX concept is to have one general purpose TAGS-CX can be easily configured for a number of different missions Capability not provided by any currently available unmanned ground system

Where have TALON Robots been used? TALON robots have been in continuous, active military service since 2000 Used in Bosnia for the safe movement and disposal of live grenades Only American-made robots successfully used at Ground Zero in search and recovery First military robots taken into Afghanistan during action against the Taliban Were on the ground in Kuwait when coalition forces massed in 2003 Have been in Iraq since performing EOD/IED (improvised explosive device) missions

COST SWORDS (talon family) cost – approx. $230,000 Train a US soldier (Armor or Cavalry) cost – approx. $100,000 to $200,000.

Foster-Miller are currently at work on a "Game Boy" style controller with virtual-reality goggles for future operators

Video: http://www.foster-miller.com/images/Videos/Padlock.wmv QUESTIONS?? (technical site) http://www.foster-miller.com/literature/documents/TALON-Brochure.pdf#talon_brochure Robots Run Amok? The thought of robots motoring around with deadly weapon systems mounted on them is disturbing to many people. Could a robot go berserk and start shooting at people indiscriminately? Military officials and robot designers say this is almost impossible. The robots don't operate autonomously very often, relying on remote human operators most of the time. Even if a robot with a gun were allowed to operate on its own, and it did go out of control, the push of a button on the control unit is all that would be needed to reboot the robot to safe mode. Video: http://www.foster-miller.com/images/Videos/Padlock.wmv http://www.foster-miller.com/images/Videos/live%20fire_final2.wmv Sources Cited- Wikipedia.org Foster-Miller.com HowstuffWorks.com