US special forces purchase multi-purpose robots from KNDS France

The weapons manufacturer KNDS France has clarified a contract for the supply of 10 NERVA-LG multi-purpose robots to the US special forces.

The lightweight, mobile and intuitive platform is designed for reconnaissance and operational support as it performs a range of tasks including remote observation, detection and jamming.

NERVA LG is suitable for traversing challenging terrain and hostile environments with improvised explosive devices and chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear threats thanks to its extremely robust, shockproof and waterproof properties.

One-click system

It is designed as a “one-click system” and allows for quick and easy changes.

The battery can be replaced with a single click, the platform can be adapted to specific mission equipment, and the wheels or track can be reconfigured – all without tools.

Specifications

KNDS designed the system to be compact at 5 kilograms (11 pounds) and easy to use by mounted and dismounted personnel. It also features semi-autonomous waypoint navigation to autonomously follow paths while allowing operator control for flexibility in military missions.

The robotic platform can communicate over a range of over 1,000 meters (3,281 feet) when operating under optimal conditions, particularly in a line-of-sight scenario.

In more inaccessible environments such as dense forests, the range decreases to about 500 meters (1,640 feet). It can now drop to several hundred meters in urban areas.

The NERVA-LG features a front HD camera with a resolution of 1280 x 720 pixels, infrared sensitivity and powerful lights that enable operation even in low light conditions.

Additionally, the system features a virtual pan and tilt function that electronically simulates movement and can capture and monitor expansive scenes due to its 120-degree horizontal field of view (FOV) and 60-degree vertical field of view.

Finally, the robot has a 360-degree field of view through three standard cameras positioned on the left, right and back, with each camera having a resolution of 320 x 240 pixels, a horizontal 90-degree field of view and a vertical 71-degree field of view. Degree field of view has field of view.