RE2 Robotics contracted to support USAF airfield damage repair program

RE2 Robotics is to provide manipulation and ground robotics expertise for the U.S. Air Force's Rapid Airfield Damage Repair program.

The services come under a three-year $3.3 million subcontract from a division of Applied Research Associates Inc., located at Tyndall AFB in Panama City, Florida.

"It is highly likely, if an airfield is attacked, that unexploded ordnance, debris, and extensive damage would need to be assessed and mitigated before steps could be taken to repair the site," said Jorgen Pedersen, president and chief executive officer of RE2 Robotics.

"The primary goal of the RADR program is to keep humans out of harm's way by rapidly and remotely assessing, mitigating, and repairing airfield damage with mobile ground robotic systems. This is where we come in and provide our mobile robotics expertise."

RE2 said it will work with Applied Research Associates and the Air Force to identify reach, lift, weight, and dexterity requirements for RADR-specific manipulator arms. The company's DM4-A2 mobile manipulator and ForeRunner high-speed ground robotic platform will be utilized for demonstration and requirements generation purposes.

Additional sub-contract details were not disclosed.

DRS Technologies, Roboteam partner for Army program
Arlington, Va. (UPI) May 25, 2016 - DRS Technologies Inc and Roboteam Ltd have partnered to develop a joint solution for the U.S. Army's Common Robotic System – Individual program.

The emerging CRS-I program is to provide dismounted troops with the ability to conduct lower-level reconnaissance, surveillance, and target acquisition; and to remotely perform chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear detection.

Additional capabilities sought are the remote clearing of danger areas and the conducting of explosive obstacle counter-measure operations; and conducting of explosive ordnance disposal operations from a standoff distance.

"We are excited to work with Roboteam to offer our customer a world-class robotic solution that provides dismounted troops with a superior capability to detect and mitigate threats," said Joseph Matteoni, vice president and general manager of DRS Sustainment Systems, Inc.

Roboteam -- a subsidiary of an Israeli company -- designs, develops and manufactures unmanned platforms and controllers for the military and law enforcement.

DRS Technologies is a leading technology company and supplier of integrated products, services and support to military forces, intelligence agencies and prime contractors.