The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) has confirmed the purchase of two Ghost Robotics Corporation Vision 60 (V60) quadrupedal unmanned ground vehicles (Q-UGVs) for experimentation. The Tactical Weaponised UGV project is exploring the use of Q-UGVs in dangerous and complex urban environments, and in extreme and complex terrain. It is envisaged that Q-UGVs can enable troops to operate faster and longer, and step back from some of the most challenging and dangerous operational tasks. Valued at GBP449,000 (USD590,332), the contract – let by the Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S) Future Capability Group to UK reseller Edgar Brothers and publicly confirmed on 2 March – also includes a two-year warranty package.
The V60 ‘robotic dog’ is a mid-sized high-endurance Q-UGV designed for all-weather use in a broad range of unstructured urban and natural environments. UK Strategic Command has procured the two V60 systems to explore their application to ‘dull, dirty, and dangerous’ roles: the V60 was sourced on the basis that it is the only solution on the market with the potential to be weaponised to support counter-terrorism and urban warfare missions. V60 Q-UGVs are architected to allow rapid adaptation to new environments using our proprietary blind-mode control core that mimics how mammals operate across a range of urban and natural environments.
Ghost Robotics Corporation goal is to make Q-UGVs an indispensable tool and continuously push the limits to improve its ability to walk, run, crawl, climb and eventually swim in complex environments that customers must operate in, day in and day out. Q-UGVs are only useful if they can live up to their potential. Legged robots are made for unstructured terrain where a typical wheeled or tracked device cannot operate efficiently. Robodogs can operate in a semi-autonomous mode, carrying out surveillance along predetermined routes. Ultimately, robot is made to keep warfighters, workers and K9s out of harm’s way. Even if the environment is completely unknown, vision sensors degrade or fail, you can be assured that when legged robot does fail, slip or fall, it will get right back up and continue moving.
Ghost Robotics provides solutions for commercial and military partners and their ever-changing demands. Since 2015, Ghost Robotics has been focused on building a Q-UGV that is the best-in-class, working hand-in-hand with our customers, not just throwing a robot onto the market from the lab. Useful and scalable technology takes time, and Ghost is committed to building the very best platform for defense contractors, technology innovators, and systems integrators to deliver solutions their customers need. Ghost’s underlying proprietary electronics, software stack, and control system for complex actuated systems will power a future of next-generation mobile robots beyond quadrupeds, including human enhancement systems, manipulation systems, and futuristic hybrid mobility platforms.
