27
May 2016
I
ndustrial
C
omputing
5-inch monitor. An operator can control var-
ious unmanned systems with just one of the
rugged handhelds from the ROCU-7 series,
no matter whether the device is a terrestrial
robot, an unmanned aerial vehicle (drone) or
a system for use in water. The Windows-based
handheld allows continuous control of all the
units that are connected. This includes opera-
tion of the unmanned robot as well as control
of its tactical mission. The rugged controller
works with Windows 7 and has numerous
standardized interfaces to various solutions. It
is possible to control the entire mission man-
agement and carry out diverse independent
actions.
For evenmore convenient usability, Roboteam
equipped its rugged controller with a number
of control elements. This includes joysticks, in
addition to rugged switches that can also be
operated with gloves. The unmanned units
can consequently be precisely controlled and
positioned at the site with pinpoint accuracy.
The open interfaces make it possible to use
the intuitive platform that Roboteam devel-
oped, along with complex external systems
that users may be using. The COM Express
modules support this deployment scenario
because they have been specially developed
for use in multi-touch display systems and
consequently perfectly fulfil the specifica-
tions for the embedded solution that Robo-
team was seeking for its controller. Roboteam
developed the ROCU-7 control unit on the
basis of military standards in order to satisfy
the requirements of ground troops around the
world. This allows dangerous missions to be
easily coordinated and carried out from a safe
distance. The solution can also be used with
unmanned air and water robots, however, in
order to coordinate and control critical mis-
sions in real-time.
Roboteam didn’t use any of the commer-
cially available standard rugged tablets for the
ROCU-7. Instead the company developed its
own solution and used the best components
on the market, such as the COM Express
mini modules. This allowed designing smaller
and more rugged units and equips them with
exactly the control elements that the company
had in mind. Individuality was also a key fac-
tor for the Roboteam developers when it came
to the screen. The rugged controller monitor
can also be easily read in bright sunlight and
it even individually adapts to difficult lighting
conditions. Its light components also support
use at night. The unmanned unit that is to be
controlled can be clearly and precisely iden-
tified on the highly specialized screen in all
light conditions. This allows a clear look at the
unmanned robot at all times in all environ-
ments. So-called starlight readable screens are
an important tool, especially for use in tun-
nels or for underground surveys.
An important factor in selecting Kontron was
the importance of light and compact designs
for the Roboteam systems in order to simplify
use in the field. The unmanned robot and
ROCU-7 control unit together weigh a total
of only around 16 kg. Task forces can carry
the complete system on their backs across the
terrain until they reach the point at which the
robot has to enter the danger zone. This means
that the soldiers do not have to go directly to
the site of use in order to do their job. Instead,
the munitions that are to be put in place
are laid in the robot gripper arm. The robot
then drives by remote control to the site and
deposits the munitions as required. Once the
robot has left the danger zone, the munitions
can be set off from a distance. Consequently
neither the soldiers nor the robot are endan-
gered. Conversely, this also makes it possible
to retrieve critical materials from dangerous
settings and securely decommission them in
order to protect those involved.
n
Figure 2. The COM Express mini module has now been working in Roboteam controllers for
more than three years and has proven itself in all its missions.
