TACTICALLY ASSISTED UNMANNED GROUND VEHICLE with CRAWLING SURVEILLANCE ROBOT

North ZONE WINNER (DRUSE -2018)

“Dedicated to the Indian soldier who gives so much and asks for nothing but dignity and little understanding from his countrymen.”

Some of the most prominent problems world facing today are Terrorism and Insurgency. Governments and researchers across the globe are working day and night in order to bring these problems under control. Billions of dollars are being spent by nations for the research of new defense systems which are capable of safeguarding citizens from terrorist threats.

Terrorism in India, poses a significant threat to the people of India. Terrorism found in India includes ethno-nationalist terrorism, religious terrorism, left wing terrorism and narco terrorism. On a day to day basis we keep hearing news from the border areas where our soldiers lose their life in direct combat with the terrorists, or hostages are killed by terrorists during a hijack like situations, as the one we witnessed in 2008 Mumbai terror attack. All of these lives are precious indeed and the loss to the country is irreparable.

“How would it be, if in all such scenarios human soldiers were to be replaced by machines?”

Nowadays with major advancement in the field of robotics and thereby in many developed nations, the dangerous and crucial counter terrorist operations are being handled by the sophisticated robotic machines which are not only more combat efficient but are also responsible for saving several human lives. Therefore with the help of this project, we aimed at providing our ideas/solutions in establishing a world class Robotics base in India as well and help in optimizing combat potency of Indian Military, thus minimizing threats to our soldiers and avert the loss of precious human lives

PROJECT OVERVIEW

Abstract

In our project we aimed at designing and building a Soldier Assisted Surveillance System which named as TAUGV-CSR which stands for “Tactically Assisted Unmanned Ground Vehicle with Crawling Surveillance Robot”, can provide remote surveillance and maneuver capabilities in a variable topography. The project consists of an Unmanned Ground Vehicle (UGV) and an attached Crawling Surveillance Robot (CSR)

What makes TAUGV-CSR?

Unmanned Ground Vehicle (UGV)

The Unmanned Ground Vehicle (UGV) is a heavy duty all-terrain vehicle specially designed to climb steep surfaces (such as a slope, flight of stairs), aimed at providing a cover and act as a server for attached Crawling Surveillance Robot (CSR).The Unmanned Ground Vehicle (UGV) is remotely controlled by ground station over encrypted Wi-Fi channel through its course while its job is to provide all real-time sensory as well as live video camera feedback to the ground station ,thus helping in basic its manoeuvrability.

Characteristics:

    • Heavy duty all-terrain vehicle specially designed to climb steep surfaces using ROCKER BOGIE SUSPENSION.
    • Provides dock and undock mechanism to carry CSR.
    • Provides cover and acts as a server for CSR.
    • Controlled by ground station over encrypted Wi-Fi channel through an android based app.
    • Provides real time sensory as well as live video feedback to the ground station

Crawling Surveillance Robot (CSR)

Crawling Surveillance Robot (CSR) is a versatile, low-cost, remotely controlled, small-sized unmanned, statically stable quadruped robot, designed to extend the capabilities of Unmanned Ground Vehicle (UGV) so that it can crawl through small spaces (like ventilation shafts and sewerage pipes). It is partially fixed onto Unmanned Ground Vehicle (UGV) and can be deployed anytime when required and vice versa. Crawling Surveillance Robot (CSR) is equipped with real-time CMOS FPV camera with a scanner that can be used to examine an object in front of it, providing all real-time information directly back to the ground station and through Unmanned Ground Vehicle (UGV) with the help of its inbuilt Repeater.

Characteristics:

    • Versatile small sized spider like unmanned Quadruped robot.
    • Designed to extend the capabilities of UGV.
    • Can crawl through small spaces like ventilation shafts, pipes etc.
    • A Specially designed dock-undock system is added to UGV which helps to carry CSR over uneven topography by docking it onto the UGV.
    • Equipped with CMOS FPV camera, high voltage batteries and bright LEDs for better night vision.

PRESENTATION

TAAUGV_CSR_online.pdf

DRUSE - 2018 (Venue: IIT Delhi May,2018 )

Results

    • Successfully designed and built a stand-alone system that remotely maneuver and collect data in a varying topography along with all the targeted features as described implemented and running successfully with minimal errors.
    • System can be controlled by ground station over encrypted Wi-Fi channel through an android based app.
    • Implemented trans-receiving of real-time sensory as well as live video feedback to the ground station positively.

VIDEO GALLERY

Conclusion:

The components and functioning of TAUGV-UGV as discussed above altogether work simultaneously in order to carry out the functions to justify its prime motive i.e. to adapt itself in accordance to any given terrain and thereby also performing its intended task of surveillance. UGV works in tandem with the CSR to provide it the flexibility to manoeuvre at the places it is not able to, thus serving its secondary purpose of being a “Big Brother” to CSR. There is a lot of scope of improvement as well as upgrading and enhancing the capability of the given system by replacing the existing components and circuits with the military standard ones in order to provide TAUGV-CSR with high ruggedness in tough terrains.

Hence TAUGV-CSR bring about a self-relying and able solution to tackle any given situations and ease a human’s job in the present day scenarios and serves the purpose as a low cost solution to remotely maneuver and data collection in a varying topography (like multi-storey building in urban and suburban settings) in order to provide tactical advantage over enemies, thus preventing loss of precious human lives.