PackBot
•Behavior-based AI control systems enable small robots to operate intelligently – autonomously, or seamlessly with supervisory teleoperation
•AI provides the low-level control of most recent robots
•Two versions in active use in Afghanistan and Iraq
–PackBot Scouts for reconnaissance in caves, etc.
–Packbot EODs for explosive ordnance disposal
•Keeps soldiers out of harm’s way!
•They are approximately 50 deployed PackBots in Afghanistan and Iraq carrying out more than 100 missions per day
•Will be a major component of Army’s Future Combat Systems
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Small intelligent robot for reconnaissance and explosive ordnance disposal
Status
Impact
Robotic Systems
There were originally five different manufacturer’s robots deployed in Iraq.  That number has been reduced to two.
The other is the Talon from Foster-Miller.  It is completely teleoperated and not intelligent.
The PackBot family (from iRobot) carries its own computer and adds intelligence so that untrained operators can get high performance (over-volted motors, very rapid optic fiber deployment and pick up, and use of a long manipulator) from the robot without damage or “operator error”, which would happen without the intelligent layer between the joystick and the robot.