1. FOSTER MILLER
TALON OPERATIONS
Bryan Mason
Professor Fang
MIS 304

2. 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.

3. 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)

4. 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.

5. 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

6. 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.

7. 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

8. (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

9. (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

10. 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

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

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

13. Video: http://www.foster-miller.com/images/Videos/Padlock.wmv
QUESTIONS??
(technical site)
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:
Sources Cited-
Wikipedia.org
Foster-Miller.com
HowstuffWorks.com