Robotic Controller Kit
Transforms Bobcats into Remotely-Operated Robots
Our robotic controller kit can be installed in about 15 minutes on 17 different models of Selectable Joystick Controlled (SJC) Bobcat loaders (skid-steer, all-wheel steer, or compact track). The controller kit works on 16,000+ SJC Bobcat loaders produced since 2001 and sold worldwide.
The controller kit temporarily transforms the Bobcat into a remotely operated “robot” capable of using more than 40 Bobcat-approved attachments. The loader can be sent down-range to handle large, deeply buried IEDs, vehicle-borne IEDs or land mines and unexploded ordnance. Upon completion of a mission, the operator can return the loader to manual operation by turning a key on the rear of the vehicle. The operator can also move a controller kit from one SJC-equipped Bobcat loader to another, allowing the mission to dictate the optimal sized machine.
The kit supports up to eight cameras for non-line-of sight operation, a microphone enabling the remote operator to hear ambient sound from the cab, battlefield approved radio options, GPS, three control options (laptop, wearable and common desktop), green and yellow warning lights to signal robotic engagement, an anti-rollover warning system, remote feedback from the loader (engine rpm, hydraulic pressure, error messages, etc.), and emergency manual shut-off switches on the vehicle and on the control panel that support remote restart.
The kit’s hardened electronics are rated at 149°F (65°C) and are designed to MIL-STD- 810F environmental standards. Cameras include four mounted on the roof, one in the cab and one on the attachment. Night vision is provided by IR Illumination and thermal imaging cameras as well as additional white spot lights.
Expertise in Action:
In collaboration with the Japanese government, we sent our unmanned systems into Japan in April 2011 to assist with the country’s natural disaster recovery efforts. The equipment being staged in Japan for rapid, on-call deployment included our Robotic Appliqué Kits. The unmanned Bobcat loaders included seven cameras, night vision, thermal imagers, microphones, two-way radio systems and radiation sensors, and were able to be operated from more than a mile away to safely remove rubble and debris, dig up buried objects and carry smaller equipment. In addition to the unmanned equipment, a team of QinetiQ North America technical experts provided onsite training and support to Japan’s disaster response personnel.