Indian Unmanned Ground Vehicle Developments

Gautam

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Robots to help Indian Army fight terror in Kashmir

2 min read . Updated: 13 Nov 2019, 08:42 PM IST
By Sumit Kumar Singh, IANS
  • During cordon-and-search-operations in the Valley, these robots will be the first line of defence, thus helping prevent casualties
  • The ministry has on November 19 called the Indian industries to make representations of their products about robotics surveillance
View attachment 11327
Pic : DRDO Daksh Warrior(RUDRA) UGV prototype.

NEW DELHI : From helping in cordon-and-search ops, negotiating obstacles to lobbing grenades at terrorists holed up in buildings, the Indian Army will soon have robots to help it in counter-insurgency operations in Jammu and Kashmir.

The Ministry of Defence has started the process of procuring around 550 robotics surveillance units with minimum 25 years of service life for counter-insurgency ops in Jammu and Kashmir, sources said on Wednesday.

A senior Indian Army officer told IANS that these robots should be capable of climbing stairs and negotiating obstacles apart from throwing grenades at terrorists in built-up areas. "These robots should be capable enough for water fording with minimum 20-cm depth," the officer said.

During cordon-and-search-operations in the Valley, these robots will be the first line of defence, thus helping prevent casualties. "This would avoid casualty to our own troops during initial breach by terrorists," the officer said.

The ministry has on November 19 called the Indian industries to make representations of their products about robotics surveillance. The ministry is pushing for indigenization to reduce dependence on imports of defence items.

The ministry has initiated the process of procuring on request of the Directorate General of Rashtriya Rifles, the country's premier counterinsurgency force raised on October 1, 1990 when militancy in Jammu and Kahmir was at its peak and the local law enforcement and paramilitary agencies were unable to contain it. The force is exclusively engaged in counter-terror operations in the Valley.

The officer also stated that the robotics surveillance will have the "provision of realtime intelligence inputs for Rashtriya Rifles operations in residential and commercial areas where terrorists are holed up". The force would use these robots in built-up areas -- residential and commercial areas -- for also gathering realtime intelligence inputs prior to movement of troops.

Rashtriya Rifles is also looking for precise delivery of suitable munition through robotics platform during counter-insurgency operations. "The platform must be capable of delivering a suitable munition at the intended target, for example, throwing grenade at places where the terrorists are holed up," the officer said.

These robotics surveillance platforms will comprise a launch unit, surveillance camera to provide input in both day and night mode and transmission system, with range between 150 meters and 200 meters.

"Interestingly, it will help in dynamic realtime monitoring of terrorist activities during operations," the officer said.

Further, it should be light-weight, rugged and portable and at the same time, shockproof to withstand firing or attacks from terrorists.

"It should also transmit visual data to a distance of abut 150-200 meters across four walls, facility to rotate 360 degrees and pan and tilt," the officer added.

Robots to help Indian Army fight terror in Kashmir

Remember the Army's recent turn to armed UGV ? This has been a long time coming. In fact DRDO has already built multiple prototypes of potentially armed UGVs. They also roped in various private companies in these projects, sort of like the ATAGS. The UGV is unlikely to be a one-size-fit-all solution for all terrains/missions. So the Army might go for a light and a heavy UGV, though I am not sure we have money for both. We might end up buying just one, the cheapest one.

In any case, here are two UGVs designed by DRDO manufactured by L&T Defence :
IMG_20180414_104811(1).jpg

The manipulator arm of the one on the left can easily be replaced by a light machine gun or a grenade launcher. The one on the left is a mystery to me. Look at those wheels though, cool.:love: Send this one to the moon already.
 
Remember the Army's recent turn to armed UGV ? This has been a long time coming. In fact DRDO has already built multiple prototypes of potentially armed UGVs. They also roped in various private companies in these projects, sort of like the ATAGS. The UGV is unlikely to be a one-size-fit-all solution for all terrains/missions. So the Army might go for a light and a heavy UGV, though I am not sure we have money for both. We might end up buying just one, the cheapest one.

In any case, here are two UGVs designed by DRDO manufactured by L&T Defence :
View attachment 11755

The manipulator arm of the one on the left can easily be replaced by a light machine gun or a grenade launcher. The one on the left is a mystery to me. Look at those wheels though, cool.:love: Send this one to the moon already.

So I was right. These two were chosen as prototypes for Army's UGV requirement. The four-wheeled one on the right is called the "Sentry", the tracked one on the left is called the "Mini-UGV".

Army may soon get robot option for recce ops

By Akhil Kadidal, DHNS, Bengaluru
January 6, 2020
1578316838394.png
The ‘Sentry’ robot built by DRDO’s CAIR lab.
1578316791061.png
School students examine a Mini-UGV robot built by DRDO's CAIR lab.

Robots on wheels, robots on tracks and robots resembling a ball, not unlike a robotic character seen in the new Star Wars films may soon be rolling out to join Indian Army troops.

For the last three years, Bengaluru-based DRDO lab, the Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robots (CAIR), has been perfecting four different models of mobile robots designed to infiltrate military and combat zones, map the area and help friendly troops punch their way in.


Two of these models, which were on display at the 107th Indian Science Congress, showed the maturity of the technology. The ‘Sentry’ is a four-wheeled robot which looks almost spider-like with a large central eye and a battery of sensors in front. The unit is designed to probe flat or semi-flat landscapes for the military.

The second machine, called ‘Mini-UGV’ is a squat, tracked robot resembling a large, toy tank designed to infiltrate buildings occupied by terrorists and survey the various floors.


“Both of these models are completely autonomous, which means that if you give them a destination, they will create their own way-points and chart a course to the destination using their inbuilt Artificial Intelligence module,” explained the project director.

He clarified that the ‘Sentry’ is also capable of patrolling a medium-sized perimeter constantly for as long as the battery held a charge. The maximum battery endurance of both machines is about four hours, scientists clarified.

Both systems use a battery of sensors, including GPS, 360-degree cameras and an infrared sensor.

The other model of robot, which was not displayed, is said to be a robot ball (called “ballbot”) which could be dropped by the mini-UGV across the various floors of a terrorist-held building, which would then be controlled by an operator from a remote location.

The operational doctrine has already been formulated for all the robots. “Eight of these various robots are designed to operate as a team. Each robot has something that we call “multi-agent collaboration.’ This means they can talk to each other,” explained another scientist involved in the project.

“The last class of machine is a larger reconnaissance ground vehicle which again has autonomous capabilities,” the senior scientist said. The DRDO said both machines have completed testing and are ready to be deployed. DRDO officials, however, would not comment about whether the Indian military had expressed interest in the inventions.

Army may soon get robot option for recce ops
 
Indian Air Force will get this special robot, it can easily defuse a 1000 kg bomb

By Shivani Gite, Feb 07 2020 12:08 PM
1581086827611.png

Lucknow: India is getting new forces from the ongoing Defense Expo in Lucknow, the capital of Uttar Pradesh. One of these is a robot that is available to the Indian Air Force, which can easily defuse a 1000 kg bomb.

According to the sources, the decision to include this robot in the Indian Airforce has not been fully decided yet. But many trials have been done on behalf of the Airforce. It has been produced by the Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO), which has been exhibited at the ongoing Defense Expo in Lucknow.

DRDO UXOR.jpg

Speaking on this robot, DRDO scientist Alok Mukherjee has said that, 'We have conducted many trials of this robot with the Indian Air Force, a practice of bomb defusing many locations has also been done'. These robots will be controlled through a mobile center, that is, human capability will not be required for bomb diffuses.

Indian Air Force will get this special robot, it can easily defuse a 1000 kg bomb
 
So I was right. These two were chosen as prototypes for Army's UGV requirement. The four-wheeled one on the right is called the "Sentry", the tracked one on the left is called the "Mini-UGV".

Army may soon get robot option for recce ops

By Akhil Kadidal, DHNS, Bengaluru
January 6, 2020
View attachment 12768
The ‘Sentry’ robot built by DRDO’s CAIR lab.
View attachment 12767
School students examine a Mini-UGV robot built by DRDO's CAIR lab.

Robots on wheels, robots on tracks and robots resembling a ball, not unlike a robotic character seen in the new Star Wars films may soon be rolling out to join Indian Army troops.

For the last three years, Bengaluru-based DRDO lab, the Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robots (CAIR), has been perfecting four different models of mobile robots designed to infiltrate military and combat zones, map the area and help friendly troops punch their way in.

Two of these models, which were on display at the 107th Indian Science Congress, showed the maturity of the technology. The ‘Sentry’ is a four-wheeled robot which looks almost spider-like with a large central eye and a battery of sensors in front. The unit is designed to probe flat or semi-flat landscapes for the military.

The second machine, called ‘Mini-UGV’ is a squat, tracked robot resembling a large, toy tank designed to infiltrate buildings occupied by terrorists and survey the various floors.

“Both of these models are completely autonomous, which means that if you give them a destination, they will create their own way-points and chart a course to the destination using their inbuilt Artificial Intelligence module,” explained the project director.

He clarified that the ‘Sentry’ is also capable of patrolling a medium-sized perimeter constantly for as long as the battery held a charge. The maximum battery endurance of both machines is about four hours, scientists clarified.

Both systems use a battery of sensors, including GPS, 360-degree cameras and an infrared sensor.

The other model of robot, which was not displayed, is said to be a robot ball (called “ballbot”) which could be dropped by the mini-UGV across the various floors of a terrorist-held building, which would then be controlled by an operator from a remote location.

The operational doctrine has already been formulated for all the robots. “Eight of these various robots are designed to operate as a team. Each robot has something that we call “multi-agent collaboration.’ This means they can talk to each other,” explained another scientist involved in the project.

“The last class of machine is a larger reconnaissance ground vehicle which again has autonomous capabilities,” the senior scientist said. The DRDO said both machines have completed testing and are ready to be deployed. DRDO officials, however, would not comment about whether the Indian military had expressed interest in the inventions.

Army may soon get robot option for recce ops
DRDO Mini UGV.jpg
 
Kalyani/Bharat Forge UGCV with a machine gun turret. I could be wrong but the gun looks like a 0.50 cal.
ep6povdu0aa_zyw-jpg.13772
Kalyani Group-developed Unmanned ATV-1.jpg
Kalyani Group-developed Unmanned ATV-2.jpg
 
Future Wars: India’s first-ever unmanned war machine is here; To be tested soon

By: Huma Siddiqui | Published: March 13, 2020 4:02:00 PM

“SOORAN is field-tested and ready to go for manufacturing. We are still upgrading its autonomous capabilities and working on documentation” Dennis Ebenezar, MD of a start-up Defence Master India Pvt Ltd, tells Financial Express Online.
1584160213794.png
‘SOORAN’ country’s first unmanned armoured vehicle, capable to fight on battlefields and be operated from a distance, has caught the interest of the Indian Army.

In an effort to ensure minimum casualties during the war, the Indian Army is getting ready to test out an unmanned vehicle next month. ‘SOORAN’ country’s first unmanned armoured vehicle, capable to fight on battlefields and be operated from a distance, has caught the interest of the Indian Army. “SOORAN is field-tested and ready to go for manufacturing. We are still upgrading its autonomous capabilities and working on documentation works,” Dennis Ebenezar, MD of a start-up Defence Master India Pvt Ltd, tells Financial Express Online. The tests will be done in Chennai next month for the Indian Army.

The tests next month which will be carried out next month is of significance, as Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Gen Bipin Rawat in his interaction with the young Instrumentation & Control engineer had expressed interest in Project SOORAN during the DefExpo 2020.

The son of a retired schoolmaster, Ebenezar explains “The unmanned vehicle weighing around 500 kgs can be operated either through a control room or through a mobile phone. It has a mounted gun turret, and this too can be controlled remotely.”

1584160189143.png

More about SOORAN :
  • It is multi-terrain vehicle.
  • Equipped with artificial intelligence and has a petrol engine.
  • Can be operated in three modes including teleoperated with remote, teleoperated from a mobile control station and through an autonomous mode.
  • This is possible through artificial intelligence ‘NIVATA’.
  • It also has onboard long-range cameras, high-end processors, controllers, sensors, power backup, etc.
  • Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) as well as other stakeholders have shown interest in this futuristic war machine.
  • For the future Digitised future warfare, he is working on Artificial Super Intelligence NIVATA, which is under development and testing. “NIVATA specially designed to take on terrorists hiding inside buildings,” he says.

1584160164015.png

“We have three ground and air combat systems are capable to conduct coordinated combat operation using Artificial Intelligence (AI) NIVATA, specially designed to take on terrorists hiding inside buildings. And besides ‘SOORAN’ which is Tele-operated Unmanned Combat Vehicle with Autonomous mode, there is ‘Sky Emperor’: Drone with a Gun. Remote controlled and Autonomous and ‘Scout Flies’ – a cluster of micro-drones used to destroy Specific targets using a small amount of chemical explosives loaded in it.”

“Scout Flies can also be used for mass ground search operations with facial and object recognition and is fully autonomous with pre-designed tasks,” says the man who has self-financed these projects.

“A demonstration is being scheduled for mid-April, where all the three combat systems will conduct a coordinated combat operation with help of NIVATA, with certain pre-designed assignments,” he adds.

Future Wars: India’s first-ever unmanned war machine is here; To be tested soon
 
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CVRDE had developed the MUNTRA family of UGVs using the BMP-II as a base vehicle. The project is meant to be a tech demonstrator for future UGVs. The MUNTA family has 4 members divided based on payload : MUNTRA-S, MUNTRA-N, MUNTRA-M & the MUNTRA-B. MUNTRA-B is pictured below.
MUNTRA-B.jpg

Each member has a separate mission & they maintain comms links with the base vehicle. The base vehicle transfers the data back to the users. The vehicles are semi-autonomous as in they can perform certain tasks without human intervention. But the commands to initiate the tasks has to be provided by humans.

The vehicle movements can be controlled directly upto 5 km LOS range. Beyond that the command data is transferred to the based vehicle which relays the data to others. This indirect LOS control can operate up to 20 km.
1633604566400.png
For now these vehicles are being used to acquire operational experience in the use of UGVs. They don't have an offensive role yet.

The poster below is CVRDE's road map for developing UGVs. They are already behind schedule. The 2nd milestone of developing autonomous tracked UGCVs in defensive roles is only starting now & VRDE has joined in the effort.
1633604633881.png
VRDE has just issued a tender seeking help from Indian industry partners/consortiums to develop a better AI system that would allow "Enhanced Autonomy". The proposed new AI architecture should be able to do the following :
Screenshot (764).png
The tender has the following deliverables:
Screenshot (762).pngScreenshot (762).png

CVRDE eventually wants to have a family of fully autonomous Unmanned Combat Ground Vehicles (UCGVs). One of the proposed designs for the UCGVs is the following:
1633604532160.png
It is also based on the BMP-II & is armed with the Arjun Mk-1A's Remote Control Weapon System (RCWS). The RCWS has a Soviet/Russian origin 12.7 x 108 mm NSV heavy machine gun. The EO system is the Tonbo Imaging ELPEOS. ELPEOS is a multi-sensor payload that features a high resolution cooled MWIR imager, a color CCD daylight camera, integrated Laser Range Finder, ballistic computer, inbuilt video stab and target tracker.
1633606006204.png
The RCWS on the BMP-II also has a significantly larger magazine that that on the Arjun. This is necessary as there will be no one to change magazines.

CVRDE plans to make an unmanned version of the NAMICA, which is also based on the BMP-II. That would be something. A team of UCGV & unmanned NAMICA will help them reach their 3rd milestone.
1633604672501.png
 
The DAC has also accorded AoN for procurement of Ground-Based Autonomous System for mechanised infantry and armoured regiments which will enable various operations like unmanned surveillance, logistic delivery of ammunition, fuel & spares and casualty evacuation in the battle field.

 
Zen Technologies, India’s leading anti-drone technology and defence training solutions provider, in collaboration with its subsidiary AI Turing Technologies based in Pune, launched four new products today.These IP-owned innovations – Hawkeye, Barbarik-URCWS (Ultralight Remote Control WeaponStation), Prahasta, and Sthir Stab 640 – cater to a wide range of defence requirements, empowering forces with unmatched tactical superiority and enhanced operational efficiency.

1. Hawkeye (zen.in/hawkeye) epitomizes a state-of-the-art anti-drone system camera, featuringmultiple sensor detection modules for all-weather drone tracking up to 15 km. It ensurescontinuous threat detection and enhanced security.


2. Barbarik – URCWS (zen.in/urcws) is the world's lightest remote-controlled weapon station,offering precise targeting capabilities (5.56mm to 7.62mm calibers) for ground vehicles and naval vessels, maximizing battlefield effectiveness while minimizing personnel risk. The URCWS has undergone recent firing trials at Infantry School Mhow and Armoured School Ahmednagar and performed well.


3. Prahasta (zen.in/prahasta) is a revolutionary automated quadruped that uses LIDAR and reinforcement learning to understand and create real-time 3D terrain mapping for unparalleled mission planning, navigation, and threat assessment. The quadruped can be armed with various caliber weapons such as 9mm, 5.56mm, and 7.62mm. The quadruped can be used as the first line of defence for commandos during CI operations like 26/11, thereby saving lives.


4. Sthir Stab 640 (zen.in/sthirstab640) is a rugged stabilized sight designed mainly for armouredvehicles, ICVs, and boats. The sight encompasses an intelligent fiber optic gyro-stabilized systemand delivers exceptional situational awareness with automatic search and tracking capabilities.The sight can be used in different weapon mounts such as 7.62mm, 12.7mm, 20mm, and 30mm.

 
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