Israeli Military Robots

'We can be a world superpower in robotics'

Israel is one of the leading robotics nations in the world based on a strong commitment and high investment in science and technology. Israel is moving quickly into an era of military robotics by developing an army of unmanned vehicles for ground, air and sea missions. According to Giora Katz, vice president of Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd., one of Israel's leading weapons manufacturers, one-third of Israel's military machines will be unmanned in 10 to 15 years. 

In this entry, i will show you 2 types of Israeli Military Robots:

-VIPeR^® (Versatile, Intelligent, Portable Robot)
-Robotic Snake (Un-named yet)

1. VIPeR^® (Versatile, Intelligent, Portable Robot)

VIPeR is a small, lightweight, one-person portable robot, capable of climbing stairs and obstacles to carry out a variety of missions, saving soldiers lives and enabling more effective combat performance.VIPeR^® was developed for the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) within the framework of its Portable Unmanned Ground Vehicle (PUGV) program, and in close cooperation with the Israeli Ministry of Defense’s Directorate of Defense R&D (DDR&D) and currently serves the infantry platoons.

For the Israeli-manufactured VIPeR, delivering firepower isn't an afterthought — it's practically job one.  Designed to act as a partner to dismounted troops in urban environments, the 9-in.-tall, 25-pound VIPeR can accept various sensor packages, including infrared cameras and software that maps buildings as the drone moves through them, as well as an explosives sniffer and a device that shoots jets of water to disarm bombs. But it also can open fire with a mini-Uzi submachine gun or release grenades from a 4-ft.-long robotic arm.

At just 18 in. wide, and equipped with innovative treads that change shape to help boost it over obstacles, the tiny drone can navigate cramped hallways and climb stairs to seek out targets. It can't open fire autonomously, like South Korea's Intelligent Surveillance & Security Guard Robot, essentially an armed guard tower that can target potential intruders.

VIPeR is remotely controlled via a harness and helmet-mounted display, with a human operator ultimately deciding whether to pull the trigger.
The small robot will maneuver with an "integrated wheeled/track system, powered by two electrical motors, and a ’scorpion tail’ for stabilization," which should let it move "over rough terrain, while handling obstacles, climbing steps or crawling into confined subterranean spaces and caves."

Here's the videos:

VIPeR (1st video)

VIPeR (2nd video)

2. Robotic Snake

A robot snake with a camera and microphone in its head is the Israeli military's latest battlefield weapon. A battlefield robot snake is developed by the Israel Defense Force (IDF). The snake is able to twisting into caves, tunnels, cracks and buildings. It's remote-controlled by a soldier, who uses a laptop both to guide the robot and to see and hear what it's feeding back like broadcasting pictures and sound back to the controller.

The IDF's robot snake appears to be about two meters long, and is covered with military camouflage colors. According to reports, military researchers intend to deploy the snake with combat units. It has a single camera "eye" at the front end of the robot.



The snakelike robot is able to lift its forward sections high to see over obstacles.; it can crawl into and slither effectively through very tight spaces. There are caves and bunkers that could be explored by robot. It can provide pictures and video to the remote operator. It is the subject of research for a number of specific uses by the military.

The Israel Defense Forces plan to equip combat units with search-and-surveillance models, which could also be useful to find survivors trapped within collapsed buildings. Future models might be used to plant bombs in enemy facilities.

Here's the videos:

Israeli Military Robotic Snake (1st Video)

Israeli Military Robotic Snake (2nd Video) 

Writer,

Patrick Ong Tiong Han

November 2nd 2010