Ну, если не брать противоминных роботов всяких, то информация по подобным американским разработкам ищется в Сети по FCS, и про FCS в инете довольно много.
Безэкипажных машинок в рамках программы FCS разрабатывается шесть:
Armed Robotic Vehicle (ARV) Assault;
ARV - Assault (Light);
ARV - Reconnaissance, Surveillance and Target Acquisition;
Small UGV;
Multifunction Utility/Logistics Equipment (MULE) - Transport;
MULE - Countermine.
ARV делает United Defense (BAE Systems), MULE - Lockheed Martin, a Small UGV - компания iRobot.
Несколько статеек на тему:
JANE'S DEFENCE WEEKLY - NOVEMBER 24, 2004
FCS Armed Robotic Vehicles detailed
CHRISTOPHER F FOSS JDW Land Forces Editor
Washington, DC
Details of two unmanned ground vehicle (UGV) members of the US Army's Future Combat System (FCS) family have been released by United Defense, Ground Systems.
The project's planned UGVs include the Armed Robotic Vehicle (ARV), Small Unmanned Ground Vehicle and the Multifunction Utility/Logistic and Equipment Vehicle.
United Defense is developing two 6 x 6 ARVs that will share a common chassis: the ARV-Reconnaissance (ARV-R) and the ARV-Assault (ARV-A). Two of these 8.5-tonne ARVs could be carried inside a C-130 Hercules tactical transport aircraft, which is a key user requirement for all elements of FCS.
United Defense was awarded an initial 24-month contract for Phase 1 of the ARV late last year, with General Dynamics involved in a number of key areas. Following this phase, it is expected that a total of 12 vehicles will be built: six ARV-As and six ARV-Rs.
The ARV-R - or Reconnaissance, Surveillance and Target Acquisition Vehicle, as it is also referred to - will be armed with a 25 mm XM307 Advanced Crew Served Weapon that will be provided with between 150 and 250 rounds of ready-use ammunition. The turret will be capable of traversing 180º.
The ARV-A will be fitted with a similar turret armed with an ATK Gun Systems Company MK 44 30 mm cannon and four Common Missiles (currently under development as a replacement for the Hellfire anti-tank missile). The pod of four missiles will be under full armour protection and be elevated before launch.
Both versions will have the same automotive features with the four-cycle six-cylinder diesel developing 217 hp coupled to an automatic five-speed transmission with a mild electric hybrid electric drive being offered as an option. This will give a projected maximum road speed of 90 km/h with an acceleration of 0 to 48 km/h in 10 seconds.
The active dual-acting hydro pneumatic strut-type suspension is intended to provide good cross-country mobility while steering will be of the Ackerman type with skid steering providing a turning diameter of only 6 m. The platform will be constructed of ceramic armour with a high-performance titanium backing and an automatic fire detection and suppression system fitted as standard.
It is envisaged that the ARV will operate ahead of manned FCS vehicles that will remain behind the line of sight of enemy forces.
According to the US Army, the ARV-A will "remotely provide reconnaissance capability; deploy sensors, direct-fire weapons and special munitions into buildings, bunkers and other urban features; assess battle damage; act as a communications relay; support the mounted and dismounted forces in the assault with direct-fire and anti-tank weapons; and occupy key terrain and provide over-watching fires."
The ARV-R will "remotely provide reconnaissance capability in urban military operations and other battlespace; deploy sensors, direct fire weapons, and special munitions into buildings, bunkers, tunnels and other urban features; act as a communications relay; and assess battle damage".
The ARV-R will have a telescopic mast-mounted sensor package and will provide information to the FCS Mounted Combat System and reconnaissance platoons with communication via the Joint Tactical Radio system.
The ARV-R will also be fitted with an unattended ground sensor launcher in the right side of the turret roof.
JANE'S DEFENCE WEEKLY - AUGUST 24, 2005
US Army speeds up fielding of attack robots
JOSHUA KUCERA JDW Staff Reporter
Washington, DC
The US Army will field its large attack robots two years earlier than originally scheduled, the robots' manufacturer has announced.
BAE Systems has been awarded a contract modification of USD122 million to accelerate the development of its two Armed Robotic Vehicles (ARVs) so that they can be fielded starting in 2010 rather than 2012. The ARVs are to be the largest of the unmanned ground vehicles in the army's Future Combat Systems (FCS) programme.
The two variants are the ARV-Reconnaissance (ARV-R) and the ARV-Assault (ARV-A).
The ARV-A will be armed with an ATK Gun Systems Company Mk 44 30 mm cannon and four Javelin (anti-tank) or similar missiles. The pod of four missiles will have full armour protection and will be elevated before launch.
The ARV-R will disperse ground sensors and conduct battle damage assessment. It will be armed for self-defence with a 25 mm XM307 Advanced Crew Served Weapon.
The US Department of Defense (DoD) has expressed concern that the ARVs will not be able to meet the army's requirements.
According to a 2004 report from the DoD's Operational Test and Evaluation Directorate, the autonomous navigation system used by the ARVs could cause the robots to have problems keeping up with manned ground vehicles.
In addition, "tactical 'behaviours' in unexpected situations (for example, how to escape actions when systems lose communications and situational awareness to avoid fratricide), remain technological challenges", the report's authors stated.
Officials from BAE Systems told JDW that they are "actively addressing" the problems identified by the DoD and that they believe the 2004 report used outdated information about the programme.
United Defense - which was bought in 2005 by BAE Systems - won the system design and development contract for the ARVs in 2003.
JANE'S DEFENCE WEEKLY - NOVEMBER 09, 2005
Progress made on US Army's robotic vehicle programme
Christopher F Foss Jane's Land Forces Consultant
Washington, DC
Under the direction of the US Army Tank-Automotive Research, Development and Engineering Center, the Armed Robotic Technologies (ART) platform is now taking shape.
The overall prime contractor is the BAE Systems Ground System Division, based in Santa Clara, California, with key industry subcontractors being General Dynamics Robotics Systems and Omnitech Robotics International.
ART is based on a much modified M113A3-series armoured personnel carrier chassis, rebuilt for its new role with the power pack now being at the rear of the hull rather than at the front. Track is of the rubber-band type to reduce noise and weight.
Information from ART will be fed into the US Army's Future Combat System Armed Robotic Vehicle (ARV) programme, which is being developed under the leadership of the BAE Systems Ground Systems Division. There are two versions of the 6 x 6 unmanned ARV: Reconnaissance (ARV-R) and Assault (ARV-A).
It is expected that ART will commence its trials in 2007 and leverages off current civil and military developments. Mounted on the roof is the same commander's independent thermal viewer (CITV) that is installed on the latest version of the Bradley M2A3 infantry fighting vehicle, currently deployed to Iraq.
ART will have three operational modes: autonomous, tele-operation and remote-controlled. The vehicle weighs 9.5 tonnes and will have a maximum road speed of 66 km/h. Maximum mission length is being quoted as six hours.
In order to carry out its mission, ART is fitted with a wide range of sensors, including forward-looking infra-red, acoustic, laser detection and ranging devices. A GPS will be fitted as standard, as will an inertial reference unit.
The vehicle's armament comprises a remote-controlled 7.62 mm M240 machine gun mounted on the top right side and anti-tamper systems will be fitted as standard. Advanced tactical behaviour software, as well as a diagnostic/prognostic suite, will also be integrated into the ARV.
