Haptically Operated Counter Explosive Device
Collaboration
- Date:
- 18 November, 2008
The Centre for Intelligent Systems Research (CISR), based at Deakin University in Geelong is developing robotic and haptic technologies and capabilities for the defence community within Australia as part of the Defence Capability and Technology Demonstrator (CTD) program.
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- Operating the OZbot
The OzBot series of small and medium surveillance robots have been designed in Australia and evaluated by law enforcement and defence personnel to determine suitability and ruggedness in a variety of environments. The robots can be directly connected to many off the shelf payloads such as gas sensors, x-ray sources and camera systems including thermal and night vision.
Differentiating the OzBot platform from its peers is its ability to be integrated directly with haptic technology developed by CISR. Haptic interfaces allow an operator to physically ‘feel’ remote environments through position-force control and experience realistic force feedback. By adding the capability to remotely grasp an object, feel its weight, texture and other physical properties in real-time from the remote ground control unit, an operator’s situational awareness is greatly improved through Haptic augmentation in an environment where remote-system feedback is often limited.
In addition to the Haptic manipulator, the OzBot platform has been fitted with a custom stereoscopic camera system to allow increased operator immersion with the aim of dramatically reducing operator training liability.
Remotely operated robotic devices can be used in the safe neutralization of roadside IEDs, the removal of hazardous materials, and eventually in battlefield surgery. In addition to its Defence applications, the technology has the potential to be used in the medical and gaming sectors.