Luftwaffe tests futuristic UAV

Luftwaffe tests futuristic UGV

[google translation]

Erding - on Wednesday, 30 November, took place on the area Air Force maintenance regiment of the 1 (LwInsthRgt 1) in Erding a conception of the F&T(Forschung and Technologie) Systemdemonstrators "RoboScout". In the context of this meeting the possibilities with communication and steering element carrier (KLT) were demonstrated and described, as well as shown a model (Mockup) of the Gecko. First the location-oldest of the LwInsthRgt 1, Colonel Richard Drexl, the present guests, welcomed under it coworkers of the companies taken part in the project, member of the Federal Ministry of the defense (BMVg) from the head department armament and the operations staff of the army, soldier of the office for army, the schools of the army, the BWB (Federal Office for military technology and procurement) and the military engineering agency for information technology and electronics (WTD 81).

Subsequently, the agency leader described WTD 81, director Gerfried Neumann, the past investigation phase and the meaning of the development of unmanned land vehicles, like for example to the "Gecko": "which we have now, are acting humans with machines. Which we want, are humans with acting machines ". Client of the project "RoboScout" is the WTD 81, contractors is the medium-size enterprise Base-10 of system from Hallbergmoos, which was involved already in projects for the Air Force, like in the Tornado and TAURUS. The managing director of the enterprise informed about possible operational, application type and advantages of the system. A goal of the study were technological investigations for the application of unmanned, first remote controlled land vehicles for example of the battlefield clearing-up and combat surveillance. Accordingly the unmanned vehicle is the soldiers with dangerous patrol travels, control missions and guard services to relieve and thus protect. The moreover one the vehicle than lure can be used for provoking and following fighting of hostile forces. The entire land robot system "RoboScout" could be able to be installed of the vehicle "Gecko", modular pay loads, those at the "Gecko" and the command post, of of the controlling of the vehicle by satellite been made, consist.

After the theoretical part a demonstration travel of the KLT followed on a prepared Parcours, with which the manual and automatic guidance of the vehicle should be demonstrated. The team "RoboScout" could prove that the KLT is over camera pictures, which are conveyed by a satellite operated and mobile. The control came from a command post, which could be served after previous briefing by an officer of the LwInsthRgt 1.

To what extent the use of "Gecko" and similar systems is relevant for example of the Air Force, the adviser in the BMVg described, head department armament lieutenant colonel Uwe Boerner: "robotics is fundamental for me, over" the Gecko "outside a possibility, straight in the range clearing-up, use the ranges safety device and protection by objects at the Air Force to be inserted". Application type of the "Gecko" in the Air Force are offered during patrol travels to the safety device of airfields. Toward end of 2006 further realistic tests with the "Gecko" are to be accomplished.

very nice lookking vehicle...but how is it a uav? does it have soem kind of hidden engine and wings? so when will this vehicle enter service, and where will it be deployed?

german army has a hure robot contest in 2006
after that more decisions will be felt

Re: Luftwaffe tests futuristic UGV

They must of meant to say UGV or maybe it's launched from the Trebuchet looking do-hicky on that UGV

ty but somehow topic wont change

i just thought its
unmanned - ok
aereal-vehicle - yes :roll:

however

Re: Luftwaffe tests futuristic UGV

TerraN_EmpirE said:

They must of meant to say UGV or maybe it's launched from the Trebuchet looking do-hicky on that UGV

Click to expand...

Yes, fear the German Do-Hickies!

But yeah, it's a Unmaned Ground Vehicle, or as my little brother called them, 'Buggy-bots'. No biggie though. I guess I am just anal retentive. Sounds very intresting. I hear the U.S Military is still making these.

or maye you push it out of the back of a transport plane and it glides towards the ground...

new project ,i really love german defence industry these days, in 3 days puma aifv will rollout

RLS develops modular medium-weight wheeled vehicle
GeFaS: the universal platform for wheeled armoured vehicles

A truly revolutionary vehicle concept is now emerging at Rheinmetall Landsysteme GmbH (RLS). In Kassel and Kiel, two of the company's main locations, RLS is developing a new generation of tactical vehicles – modular systems for every conceivable mission, designed for the best possible protection against landmines and ballistic threats. What makes this approach so groundbreaking is the building block principle: the basic vehicle consists of a small number of modules which can be mixed and matched for different missions.

The GeFaS – short for "Geschütztes Fahrzeugsystem" or "protected vehicle system" – a concept that could well be the shape of things to come in the world of tactical vehicles: one system for a multitude of missions. The possibilities are all but unlimited, ranging from a command vehicle or armoured personnel carrier role to a rocket launcher or weapons platform, or even a mid-range infantry fighting vehicle; the three-module GeFaS is nothing if not versatile.



Modest dimensions: when configured as a 4x4 vehicle for a six-man crew, the GeFaS will be around 7.5 metres long, 2.30 metres high, and 2.50 metres wide. This means that it can be airlifted in a Hercules C130 transport aircraft; when empty, it is expected to weigh just 12.5 tons. Likewise impressive is its planned five-ton payload capacity, an extraordinarily high figure.

The process for developing this virtuoso vehicle ran counter to conventional military procurement programmes, recalls Götz Witzel, head of product management for heavy wheeled vehicles at Rheinmetall Landsysteme GmbH in Kassel: "We analyzed the market and the current requirements and took a hard look at the different technologies. That's how we developed our vehicle concept."

The design derives from a general concept outlined by Frank Hass, an engineer at RLS Kiel. Based on a few general criteria, he produced a novel vehicle concept, whose unique design offers possibilities for crew protection without parallel in the medium weight domain. The GeFaS design combines high survivability against ballistic threats and landmines with maximum mobility. "The key emphasis today is on crew protection, the idea being to make combat-type operations as safe as possible for our troops. Plus tactical and strategic mobility, of course: the GeFaS can be airlifted in current transport aircraft as well as in the future A400M."

Unlike the GeFas, today's vehicle platforms are generally capable of carrying out only one main mission – as a tank, say, or armoured personnel carrier. Skilfully balancing the requirements of airportability, survivability and mission diversity, the GeFas represents a completely new breed of medium-weight tactical vehicle.

Its antecedents are the current generation of medium-weight wheeled armoured vehicles. "Since these are readily available and relatively cheap, we opted to develop a much higher-quality system in order to occupy the top-end of the market", notes Witzel, explaining the commercial thinking behind the project.

The GeFaS will thus offer significantly more than current comparable systems, which come in two basic types: the African variant, which is lightweight, simply engineered and well-protected against mine blasts thanks above all to its V-shaped hull. By contrast, standard European models, though fitted out with more advanced equipment, are less well protected against landmines owing to their basic design.

GeFaS combines the best of both approaches: the occupants sit well above the floor in a V-shaped hull, providing maximum protection from mine blasts; while a suite of state-of-the-art components places this multipurpose platform at the leading edge of military technology.



This symbiosis results in one of the fundamental design features of the GeFaS: modularity based on the building-block principle. Thanks to their combinability and the possibility of fast repairs, these modules assure ease of transport as well as a high degree of readiness and operational flexibility. This is because the vehicles consist of just three basic components: the axel units, the power pack and one other main building block. The really interesting thing here: in a few simple steps, this trio of building blocks can be variously configured in the field to create smaller and larger vehicles – from a two-axel command vehicle to a five-axel weapons platform.

This is because the GeFaS modules are held together by a small number of module connectors. In the event of landmine detonations or other battle damage, this offers major advantages: the connectors can serve as predetermined breaking points; for example, a damaged axel module can simply be abandoned. A second axel gives the GeFaS a degree of residual mobility, enabling it to withdraw from the danger zone. Even under field conditions, two partial vehicles can be connected to form a complete, operationally viable vehicle. Thanks to this interface technology, maintenance can be carried out extremely quickly.

This building block principle also dictates the drive design: the GeFaS is a diesel-electric-powered system. Every power pack module contains a four-cylinder high-performance density diesel engine, developed by Rheinmetall partner MTU – the same cylinders that power the new Puma infantry fighting vehicle. The electrical energy it generates also powers the electro-motors located in the axel modules. Tests are still underway to determine whether electro-motors with gearing or drive motors located directly by the wheels are the best solution.

In general, the axel units are all highly similar in design. Thus, if a mine destroys one of the axel units, the GeFaS will still be able to drag itself out of the danger zone thanks to the second axel unit, even if the diesel engine has been knocked out: the vehicle is equipped with a set of batteries with enough power for emergency operation. The GeFaS's predetermined breaking points are thus an important safety feature, as well as enabling easy reconfiguration and streamlined logistics.

Alongside the mechanical interfaces, cable connections called multicouplers transmit energy and the flow of information between the individual GeFaS modules. These multicouplers contain proven components from the world of submarine engineering. Tried and tested, these interface modules are known quantities, reliably transmitting power, data and other media between the building blocks.

In addition, the vehicle's electric drives actually bolster its survivability. "Because there are no axels or similar parts located underneath the crew compartment, there's no risk of these being hurled upwards by the blast of a mine going off under the vehicle. And fewer fragments mean fewer injuries", notes Witzel, pointing to a feature that has already been incorporated into the Puma.

For its part, the main module has been optimized to provide the best possible protection to the soldiers on board. Contributing to its survivability are the rhomboid silhouette and sandwich-type design. Special elements connect the fighting compartment to the surrounding supporting structure.

In line with this design principle, the entire compartment is suspended from the vehicle's roof area, comparable to the mine-proof roof suspension system in the Puma IFV. Special liners bolster the vehicle's ballistic survivability, as do appliqué armour modules that can be adapted to match the threat and/or exchanged to keep pace with new technological developments.



In the search for suitable axels for the module, RLS opted to cooperate with the Irish firm Timoney, whose product proved to be the best around. Each of the axel building blocks is electrically driven and controllable. This results in a very tight turning radius, regardless of speed.

There is space in overhead bins for everything that needs to be stored above. This is also a safety feature, since it reduces the number of loose objects in the crew compartment. Thus, the GeFaS couples maximum landmine protection with minimum weight: the basic 4x4 version of the vehicle should weigh in at 12.5 tons when empty.

In 2006, an armoured system demonstrator will start supplying physical data concerning the vehicle's protection characteristics; a complete system demonstrator is to be ready in 2007. RLS also intends to use the GeFaS as a platform for the Bundeswehr's planned "SysFla" air defence system.

It certainly has the potential to serve as a platform for all kinds of military hardware. Whether configured as a 4x4, 6x6 or 8x8 vehicle, it could be used to mount a variety of heavy weapon systems, replacing existing tactical vehicles. "Or", notes Witzel, "in roles as diverse as a radar platform, a smoke generator or scout vehicle." Moreover, because it can run on battery power, it will be able to operate in stealth mode. "Conceivably, a system like this could serve as an army's sole protected platform", he predicts, pointing out that it can carry any kind of army system.

The underlying concept here naturally extends to uniform logistics. Supply vehicles, for example, will enjoy the same degree of armour protection as GeFaS fighting vehicles. As a result, all troops deployed in harm's way can look forward to an identical level of optimum protection – something lacking in current operational thinking.

In addition, the GeFaS concept is highly economical. Its uniformity will make it easier to repair, maintain, service and operate, as well as facilitating training and the development of new classes of GeFaS vehicles. And in a time of tight budgets, this is a potent argument.



Uniformity is also the guiding principle when it comes to the control equipment. Because of its diesel-electric drive design, the GeFaS is packed with high-performance electrical and electronic components from the worlds of automotive technology and aviation. These include data bus connections, diagnostic and engine management systems, as well as computer-supported vehicle electronics. After being briefed and receiving an op order, all the crew has to do is save its operations plan on a data storage medium and enter it in the vehicle's computer system. The crew can then conduct its mission with a complete database. Maps, distances, fuel reserves – the GeFaS supplies the crew with the full range of required information.

Its highly effective electrical concept will also benefit other systems on board the GeFaS vehicle. For example, when the diesel engine is switched off, the air conditioner is electrically powered. When the vehicle is operating in stealth mode, other vital systems can be kept going in this way as well, without the need for elaborate mechanical connections to the main power pack – which, by the way, would delight any motorist.

With a volumetric displacement of just over four litres, the four cylinder high-power density diesel (HPD) engine pumps out an impressive 440 kW. "This sets a standard unparalleled anywhere in the automotive industry. Per cubic centimetre, the HPD's power density is twice that of current automobile engines," says Götz Witzel. This is achieved by turbocharging the cylinders, resulting in extremely high filling. With a top speed of 100 km/h and a phenomenal range of 1,000 kilometres, the astonishing GeFaS sets a whole new standard – and not just in this respect.

Ender Wiggin said:

or maye you push it out of the back of a transport plane and it glides towards the ground...

Click to expand...

Sorta like how a brick 'glides' to the ground?

Kampfwagen said:

Sorta like how a brick 'glides' to the ground?

Click to expand...

Or a piano gracefully cuts throw the air.