HALL HIGHLIGHTS
QinetiQ kit
turns Bobcat
into Talon
QinetiQ North America has developed
a kit that will “talonize”
Bobcat compact loaders, enabling
troops to operate them remotely
to counter deep-buried improvised
explosive devices (IEDs) or mines
at construction sites.
The kit, developed by the company’s
Technology Solutions
Group, can be installed in about
15min on any of the 17 models
that are equipped with Bobcat’s
Selectable Joystick Controls (SJC)
option. The kit includes seven
cameras, a microphone to allow
the operator to hear ambient
sound from the cab, three control
options, including a wearable one,
and an emergency shutoff system
that also allows remote restarting.
An eighth camera may be
added, which would give the vehicle
two pan-and-tilt cameras.
Much of the equipment is attached
by magnets, making it
quick to remove. The equipment
is rated to 156 degrees to handle
the heat in places such as Iraq
and Afghanistan.
“Other companies have roboticized
individual pieces of
earth-moving equipment, but until
now, no one has created a universal
kit that can quickly remotely
control any Bobcat SJC-equipped
loader used in the rough manner
the military requires,” says
William Ribich, president of the
Technology Solutions Group.
Northrop Grumman’s
Remotec subsidiary is also working
with a roboticized construction
vehicle, although only for a
one-off project. The company is
integrating its radio control with a
Caterpillar TL 1255 for the Los
Angeles Police Department.
14 | Flight Daily News | August 13 2009
Evergreen Unmanned Systems
(EUS) is an exhibitor with a difference.
The company doesn’t
manufacture Unmannned Air Systems,
and yet its UAVs are operating
around the world for customers
such as the US Government.
“Because Evergreen is not a
manufacturer but a service provider,
we provide an unbiased
and objective evaluation of the
industry’s top unmanned aircraft,”
says Brian Whiteside, Evergreen’s
executive vice-presi-
Keep up to date with all the latest
developments in the unmanned
sector at flightglobal.com/uav
Service with a smile as Evergreen
offers unbiased UAS products
dent. ‘Our independence from
manufacturing allows our clients
the ability to trust us with delivering
the correct answers and
right platform to achieve best
mission results.
EUS (Booth 859) is a division
of Evergreen Helicopters, and is
making the most of the company’s
heritage. “We have matched
machines to missions since 1960.
As technology has advanced so
have we,” says Whiteside.
Because of that experience and
Brian Whiteside - providing
an unbiased service
long safety record EUS has been
able to pass on benefits such as
lower-cost insurance to its clients.
It is constantly researching new
and innovative UAS platforms to
expand the fleet’s versatility and
concentrates on commercial, unmanned
aerial surveillance with
both maritime and land-based
ground stations.
EUS works in partnership with
a number of manufacturers such
as Insitu, Boeing, Elbit, Aurora
and CybAero.
flightglobal.com/auvsi
All pictures: Billypix
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