Foster-Miller TALON
The Foster-Miller TALON™ robot is a small military robot designed for missions ranging from reconnaissance to combat.
It is a tracked vehicle said to be one of the fastest robots in the market. It can travel almost anywhere, through sand, snow, underwater (out to depths of 100 feet), climb stairs (a feat for any modern robot) and fffucccccccccccccccccccccccccccckkkkkkkkklife at normal operating speeds, 2 standard lead batterys providing 2 hours each and 1 optional Lithium Ion providing an additional 4.5 hours. It can also withstand repeated decontamination allowing it to work for long periods of time in contaminated areas. It was used in ground zero after the September 11th attacks working for 45 days with many decontaminations without electronic failure. This led to the further development of the HAZMAT Talon.
It weighs less than 100 lb (45 kg) or 60 lb (27 kg) for the Reconnaissance version. Its cargo bay accommodates a variety of sensor payloads. The robot is controlled through a two-way radio or fiber optic line from a portable or wearable Operator Control Unit (OCU) that provides continuous data and video feedback for precise vehicle positioning.
Regular (IED/OED) TALON: It carries sensors and a robotic manipulator, which is used by the U.S. Army for explosive ordnance disposal and disarming improvised explosive devices.
Reconnaissance TALON: Doesn't have the robotic arm manipulator but carries day/night color cameras and listening devices, its also lighter due to the absence of the arm.
SWORDS TALON: Another version has been created called SWORDS for small arms combat and guard roles. Tested in December 2003 in Kuwait prior to deployment in Iraq.
HAZMAT (First Responders) TALON: Becoming available in 2004 using chemical, gas, temperature, and radiation sensors that are displayed in real time to the user on a hand-held display unit. It is now being tested by the US Armament Research Development and Engineering Center ARDEC.
The robot costs approximately $60,000 in its standard form. Foster-Miller were subsequently bought out by QinetiQ, a United Kingdom military developer.
SWORDS
SWORDS or the Special Weapons Observation Reconnaissance Detection System, is a weaponized version being developed by Foster-Miller for the US Army. The robot is composed of a weapons system mounted on the standard TALON chassis. The current price of one unit is $230,000, but when it enters mass production the price is expected to drop to between $150,000 and $180,000. In comparison to train a US soldier to a basic level of expertise with OSUT or AIT would cost $50,000 to $100,000. To train them for positions in Armor or Cavalry would run in the region of $100,000 to $200,000.
In monetary terms a TALON can easily be repaired, while a human casualty most likely will be killed or seriously injured, to say nothing of the irreparable emotional damage that soldier's family and friends would feel as a result of this. There is also the issue of a soldier's pension and burial, which raise the price of a human soldier even more.
There are a variety of different weapons that can be placed on the SWORDS; M16 rifle, 5.56 mm SAW M249, 7.62 mm M240 machine gun, Barrett .50 cal M2 Browning machine gun, a six barrelled 40 mm grenade launcher or quad 66 mm M202-A1 anti-tank rocket launcher.
On the firing range, these two-foot high robots are lethal. With an efficiency that a human could never replicate, the SWORDS are the snipers motto, "one shot, one kill". The robot is not autonomous, but instead has to be controlled by a soldier using a small console to remotely direct the device and fire its weapons. Foster-Miller are currently at work on a "Game Boy" style controller with virtual-reality goggles for future operators.
Deployment
The Talon has been deployed in military service since 2000 being used in Bosnia for the movement of munitions and EOD (explosive ordnance disposal) to get rid of grenades. Also used in Ground Zero after the September 11th attacks in search and recovery. It is the only robot used in this effort that didn't require any major repair. Foster-Miller says that the Talon was used for a Classified mission by US Special Forces in the war against the Taliban in Afghanistan as well as in a EOD role. In Iraq its standard role has been performing EOD and IED (improvised explosive devices) destruction missions. Its combat SWORDS version is now being used there in a guard role protecting front line buildings from attack. According to Foster-Miller it has performed 20,000 EOD missions in the conflict in Iraq and Afghanistan.