The Unmanned Rover System – URS – meets humanitarian needs around the world for a rapid a reliable delivery mode for key relief aid and supplies. URS is both manned and unmanned – empowering agencies such as the UN Refugee Agency, UNICEF and the World Food Program with new transportation options and tools to get urgent relief to those that need it most.
URS is built with a key objective of meeting the humanitarian and protection needs of communities displaced and affected by conflict regions while keeping relief workers a safe distance from roads and normal supply routes that are dangerous.
The Unmanned Rover System will deliver food, water and sanitation; health and medical supplies; non-food items and winter support; and shelter to key relief sectors.
Working in a collaborative environment with the UAE’s Masdar Institute, the URS will have:
– Remote control: this capability will allow the human operator to be off the platform for dull or dangerous relief aid missions
– Follow-me: an additional autonomous platform within a vehicle column or in support of a single relief aid vehicle can provide both additional sensor range and carriage capacity
– Return home: in an emergency or circumstance where the driver is incapacitated or unable to drive the vehicle, a ‘return home’ mode would cause the vehicle to return by fastest means to a fixed point
– Shuttle: the ability to shuttle supplies between a main base and forward base, or forward base and operations area, is a key need in relief aid operations
– Waypoint-follow: a logistics resupply route negotiated by an autonomous system would increase the utilisation of vehicles in a fleet, while also reducing the risk to humans engaged in relatively routine work for aid relief
– Driving: the URS can cruise on a straight and direct path to reach the destination, where as known cars, ATVs, SUVs etc. will have to circumnavigate many obstacles. As a consequence, the URS can reach the destination directly and quicker with lower risk
– Track operated: the point of gravity is exceptionally low and the Kevlar/rubber-made track provides optimum grip for precise power and speed control. The risk of roll-over or directional instability is reduced to a minimum. The URS does not need any ground clearance and therefore has almost no difficulties overcoming any obstacles
– Safety: the point of gravity is exceptionally low and the risk of roll-over or directional instability is reduced to a minimum.
– Installation special equipment: the URS is the perfect relief aid delivery vehicle for the carriage of supplies to personnel and refugees in cities unable to be reached by typical humanitarian relief vehicles
– Relief and humanitarian air drop operations: the URS is the perfect solution for airdrop operations. Due to the very low point of gravity and the balanced installation of the lift/tow points, the vehicle will always reach the surface stable and in an operation-ready position