Tuesday, 13 June, 2006
Singapore is strongly manned for future UVs
Darren Lake
Singapore is strongly manned for future UVs
Singapore Technologies Kinetics (ST Kinetics) (Stand H10) has
joined forces with the Singapore Army and the Singapore Ministry of
Defences Defence Science and Technology Agency at the show to
chart some of their thinking on the future development of land
forces. It is the first time the army has chosen to exhibit in this
way abroad.
Task Force Singapore, as the alliance is known, had its first
outing at Asian Aerospace earlier in the year. Then, according to
senior project officer Colonel Leong Kwok Lung, the objective was
to show both the public and the region what the armys ideas for
the future were. Here at Eurosatory, Col Leong hopes to reach an
ever-wider audience and exchange ideas.
In the countrys concept for the future unmanned aerial vehicles
(UAVs) and unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs), both figure largely. In
terms of UGVs, the team believes that remote semi-autonomous and
robotic systems are best suited to the dull, dirty and dangerous
missions.
To select technologies to fulfil such roles, the Singaporeans are
testing a number of different systems. Col Leong says that to
facilitate experimentation, the army has deployed UGVs with
one of its infantry battalions. In the armys
transformation, it is particularly interested in enhancements that
will increase the armys effectiveness in urban terrain.
At the moment the focus of activity is on portable UGVs and UAVs
that can be used to support the individual soldier or formation.
Among the systems that have been trialled is the Portable
Battlefield Robotic System. In effect a camera on a telescopic arm
mounted on a remote control buggy, Col Leong characterises it as a
cheap and dirty solution that although not necessarily
sophisticated gives the soldier what he needs.
Also on the stand are examples of ST Kinetics UAV projects. These
include the latest Fantail 5000 a more robust version of the UAV
with an increased payload capability of 0.36kg. Alongside this UAV
is the Skyblade II, which has been procured by the army.
Further into the future Col Leong says the army is also looking at
experimenting with robotic systems in the mounted environment. ST
Kinetics has developed the Robotic Spider Light Strike Vehicle and
is also looking at an autonomous decoupled back drive unit based on
its Bronco all-terrain tracked vehicle.
fr
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Increased payload: Fantail 5000
