strength in motion

R1 is a tracked unmanned ground vehicle (UGV) that goes into places people should not enter yet. It finds out what is inside and reports back, so crews can decide what to do before anyone is put at risk.

One platform serves two jobs: assessing a dangerous scene for emergency responders, and walking routine inspection rounds in plants where explosive atmospheres can be present.

R1 is in development. The capabilities below are what we are designing and testing it to do.

Gets where it is needed

  • Four articulated legs, each ending in a track, for stairs, curbs, rubble, mud, standing water, grating and catwalks
  • Legs reach out to bridge stair steps and fold in so it can turn on tight landings
  • Sized around the narrow stairways and landings found in industrial plants

Sees and senses

  • Thermal, depth and stereo cameras with 3D LiDAR
  • Gas and temperature sensing, so crews know about hazards before they enter
  • Builds a map as it goes, and tags every finding with its location
  • Reads gauges and checks for leaks, heat and abnormal sound on inspection rounds
  • Two-way audio, so a rescuer can talk to someone who is trapped

Does the work

  • Two arms to open doors, move light debris, and pick up and place objects
  • Carries aid to people who cannot get out yet
  • Driven by Ferradyne actuators, sealed against dust and water and designed for explosion-risk areas

Works with people

  • Operated remotely over radio by one person, with little training
  • Keeps working on its own when the radio link drops
  • Takes plain-language instructions and confirms them before acting
  • Answers questions about what it sees and about its own condition, and explains what it is doing and why
  • Made to be safe to work beside

Built to a standard, not retrofitted to one

  • Designed from the start to the ASTM E54.09 response robot test methods published by NIST, and to FEMA Authorized Equipment List item 03OE-07-ROBT
  • Targeting hazardous-area Zone 1 and IP67 dust and water protection for industrial sites
  • Checks its own readiness before a mission and reports damage in the field, so crews know whether it can carry on in a reduced mode or needs to come back

Lessons from past rescue robots

Rescue robots have often been lost to ordinary problems such as getting stuck, flooding or a snagged cable before their sensors were ever used. So we prove R1's mobility and its behavior when communication is lost on simple, repeatable tests first, and we confirm with the people who will use it that they want a capability before we build it.

Work with us

We are looking for response agencies and plant teams who want to help shape R1 and pilot it on a real scene or inspection route. Get in touch.