ZEUS UGV – Extending Capability
EXTENDING CAPABILITY
A UGV should not just be a surveillance platform, but be able to deliver a wide range of other capabilities such as render safe tools or CBRNe techniques. Zeus has the strength and ability to carry a considerable range of additional payload tools.
DISRUPTORS
BARRELLED DISRUPTORS
| There are many different types of barrelled disruptors on the market which can make having all required mounting accessories impossible, not to mention the knowledge of their use. You might have different systems from different manufacturers and need to hold them all. You need to mount & dismount them quickly and this can take minutes, perhaps unacceptable on a time critical mission. With Zeus it is possible to fully prepare the disruptor prior to mounting, and then fit in seconds, just prior to start of the mission. |  |
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| Zeus is the first UGV to have a fully universal disruptor mounting system capable of holding the following systems: Chemring ● RE70 ● RE50 ● RE12 AB Precision ● ABL3000 ● ABL3000L ● ABL2000 ● ABL2000L ● ABL1000 Countermeasure Solutions ● Vulkan ● Viper CTS Canada ● Lance PropArms ● 12.5mm ● 20mm ● 29mm Recoilless Generic ● Pig Stick ● HotRod Zeus’ unique disruptor mounting system allows you to maintain the claw on the end of the arm. This maintains and maximises your capability.  |
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DISRUPTORS
USER-FILLED EXPLOSIVE CHARGES
User filled charges such as the Alford system are an essential tool in the arsenal of Render Safe Procedures.
Placing charges is easy with the gripper, long and dextrous arm and multiple camera set up.
You need to deploy multiple Alford systems with a single UGV approach and this can be achieved with the range of simple tools.
‘The Twin Pole’ will allow the deployment of a window breaker and water bottle charge in one approach. The double pole design maximises rigidity during deployment using low cost, easily replaceable house hold plastic pipe. ‘The Twin Pole’ can even be left on target with the mineral water bottle and the UGV retracted to a safe distance. The DemiMod and MiniMod are easily deployed with ‘The Twin Pole’.
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MajorMod presents no problems due to Zeus’ strong arm, which simply places MajorMod using its own stand. No special tools, apart from a piece of rope are required.
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BootBanger, a very heavy tool, also presents no problems for Zeus. Delivered on the UGV chassis, held in a simple bracket, once on target, Zeus’ strong arm lifts and positions BootBanger into place.
Initiation can be by single use disposable receiver, or utilising the light weight firing cable reel mounted onto the side of Zeus’ arm.
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FIRING CIRCUITS
Firing or initiating EOD tools is a crucial task. 100% reliability and safety are prerequisite. You may already have in-service proved, tested and evaluated firing systems but the introduction of a new UGV could bring yet another ‘unknown’ firing system into your service. This is not the case with Zeus. Zeus takes your existing firing system and simply clips it onto the UGV.
Firing systems, due to their high levels of safety are extremely expensive, but using your existing system means you are not paying for that capability twice. Reduced training is an immediate benefit as your teams will not have to learn to use another firing system and yet another advantage is that should your firing system fail for any reason, you can simply unclip it and change it within seconds. Your UGV is then back up and running, repaired by an operator in the field and not a technician in a workshop.
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If you do not have an in service firing system already, of course there is the option to have one supplied with Zeus. Various options are available including 1, 2 & 4 channel systems for firing multiple tools. The firing systems supplied with Zeus are capable of firing tools either individually or simultaneously. Of course, they can also be unclipped in seconds and used as an independent firing system for your other non-UGV operations.
If your country of operation has specific laws governing firing systems, a system that already meets those laws can be supplied. In addition reusable hard wire or single use wire firing cable system are available.
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CBRNe
Your area of operation may be CBRNe, which brings its own unique set of requirements. Each CBRNe incident will be unique and a UGV platform that can integrate a wide range of sensing capability is essential.
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You will be able to reduce the risk to operators by sending in Zeus, which can carry out visual assessment of the suspect area and then deploy the required sensors to report back in real time information about the incident contamination, and then finally, if required remotely deploy any mitigation or containment systems. Once data about the potential risk is obtained from the sensors mounted on Zeus, a prediction can be made about the potential hazardous area and actions taken to make safe the area or evaluate as required.
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Virtually any sensors may be fitted to Zeus using its universal equipment mount. This mount is not sensor specific, and can accept many different shapes and sizes of sensor.
You may have a sensor that needs to approach a suspect material, and these can be mounted on the manipulator equipment mount at the end of the arm. This allows a sensor to be carefully positioned using cameras and if necessary aiming lasers.
But what about sensor data? Again, no problem for Zeus. As long as the sensor has a data port and can output data, Zeus can accept a wide range of data transfer protocols such as RS232, RS422, RS485 and USB to name but a few and transfer the sensor data back in real time to the OCU.
You may have multiple sensors that need to be mounted, and again this is easily handled by Zeus. There are 2 data ports on the chassis, but if more than 2 sensors are required, the data port hub may be used expanding the number of ports to 4. As there are 2 data ports on the chassis, the application of 2 hubs expands this to 8 available data ports. Hubs can be chassis mounted or arm mounted, dependant on which is the most suitable location for mounted sensors.
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Critical data from the sensors is then sent back to the OCU, and can either be displayed on the OCU screen or passed out to a central command and control system via the OCU’s Ethernet port.
Sensors may also be controlled via the UGV’s OCU carrying out commands such as switch on/off or changing settings.
For scenarios where Zeus may encounter an explosive environment, an explosive gas detector is available as an option. This will detect if Zeus has entered an explosive atmosphere and report a warning back to the operator. The operator then has the choice to either fully shutdown Zeus which will completely disconnect the batteries and remove any risk of explosion due to electrical spark, or continue with the mission. If the user choses to continue with the mission, the warning will remain active until the explosive risk has gone away.
If you use sorbent or Tenax tube sampling, then Zeus has an optional tube sampling system that can be mounted either on the arm for point detection or on the chassis for general sampling.
To avoid tube saturation and break through, a twin tube system is available with 1 tube sampling at a very low rate and the other at a very high rate. If there are very low concentrations of contaminant the high rate sampling tube will be able to take an adequate reading, and if there are very high levels of contaminant the low rate sampling tube will take an adequate reading without the risk of breakthrough. All setting including sampling rate and time may be controlled via the OCU.
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CLEANING AND DECONTAMINATION
Decontamination with common and widespread techniques is a critical capability of your UGV and Zeus was designed from the ground up with decontamination as a core capability.
Zeus is waterproof to IP65. This means it can be washed down without the risk of any liquids causing damage. It can even be cleaned with a pressure washer following strict guidelines.
Water entering sockets or connectors is not a problem as they are all waterproof when mated or fitted with a blanking cap.Chemical resistance is also a key benefit as Zeus is manufactured from chemical resisting materials and finishes. A Chemical Agent Resisting Coating (CARC) paint is applied to all exterior surfaces, and any exposed metal parts are either stainless steel or titanium which are highly resistant to all forms of decontamination and many chemicals. Plastics and rubber used in the construction have been carefully chosen to ensure resistant to a wide range of decontamination processes and chemicals.
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The modular construction of Zeus allows it to be dismantled for deeper more through decontamination. A phased system of decontamination is undertaken, removing modules at each level, and techniques to ensure that each module remains watertight whilst it is decontaminated separately.
But being resistant to decontamination is not the only aspect a CBRNe UGV must be capable of. Strict design guidelines (as detailed in NATO Stanag AEP7) have been followed to ensure there are no sharp edges in the design that could cut or tear chemical resistant gloves, the ability to operate Zeus in full CBRNe clothing including switching on and off, changing batteries and plugging sensors in have also all been carefully analysed.
Chemical resistance is a critical factor for a CBRNe UGV. Not only have Zeus’ materials and finishes been chosen to resist decontamination but also their chemical resistance has been considered. It would be impossible to design a system that was 100% resistant to all chemicals at all concentrations and evaluated temperatures. However, by using NATO Stanag AEP 7’s 9 representative Toxic Industrial Chemicals (TIC), it is possible to determine which TICs and at what concentrations will cause damage and which Zeus is resistant to. Please contact us for more detailed information.
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AUXILIARY TOOLS
EQUIPMENT MOUNT PLATES
You need a system that is future proof, one that can expand as your requirements change. Tomorrow’s requirements will be different to today’s requirements and a high value investment must be able to adapt to new threats.
Zeus has a number of ways to integrate new capabilities.
The universal equipment mount plates can hold a wide range of differing tools. A chassis mounted plate and an end of arm mounted plate allow a range of tools to be mounted. Point detection equipment is especially suitable for mounting on the end of the arm.
If you need additional power, auxiliary power supplies (12v and 24v) exist at strategic locations around the UGV.
If you need to communicate with your additional tools, such as CBRNe sensors, data ports also are located on the chassis that can communicate with a wide range of protocols without the need to fit additional radios or tethers. Not only can you control your equipment, but data may be passed out and back to the OCU using the UGV’s communication system. Once the data is back at the OCU it may be logged or transferred out to a central command and control system.
If you need multiple additional tools, a USB 4-port hub is available to increase the number of data ports.
Are you concerned about the wrong plug being fitted to the wrong socket causing damage? That is not an issue with Zeus because all plugs and sockets have a unique key making it impossible to fit the wrong plug into the wrong socket. Coupled with colour coding, you can quickly identify which connectors go where and not worry about the risk of damage should an operator try to put the wrong plug in a socket.
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SHOTGUN
The 12 gauge Benelli M4 Super 90 shotgun may be mounted and fired on Zeus for breaching tasks such as blowing locks off doors and for rendering safe IEDs. The trigger is actuated via the modular firing system which also allows the weapon to reload itself.
SENSOR INTEGRATION
As well as the detailed CBRNe application of sensors, a wide range of other sensors may be mounted on Zeus. In fact, any sensor which has the ability to be remotely controlled via a communications port may be mounted on Zeus and controller by the OCU. Contact us for more information on integrating sensors to suit your specific application.
X-RAY SYSTEMS
Zeus has a universal X ray holder system that can hold a wide range of X ray generators and plates from many different manufacturers. X Ray generators may be either held in the universal frame or chassis mounted for optimum performance.
BI DIRECTIONAL AUDIO
Sound is an important sense that you don’t want to lose working remotely. Being able to hear what is happening remotely at the UGV helps in situational awareness and Zeus’s 2 optional 2 way audio system allows not only the operator to hear what is happening but to also to talk to any potential insurgent, including recording it.
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GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM (GPS)
Zeus has an optional GPS system, allowing the UGV to report its position back to the OCU. This can then be mapped using various systems. Contact us for more information on integrating GPS to suit your specific application.
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