CaMEL UGV to take part in US Army Demonstration

Northrop Grumman’s Carry-all Modular Equipment Landrover (CaMEL) will take part in the US Army’s Maneuver Center of Excellence Robotics Limited Demonstration at Fort Benning to assist the army in formulating requirements for mobility and manoeuvrability technology. The demonstration, which gives industry the opportunity to showcase new and innovative UGVs and interact with the US Army, is taking place between 7-10 October.

CaMEL is a mid-sized unmanned ground vehicle (UGV) designed to accommodate multiple missions, including lightening the load; performing casualty evacuations; clearing antipersonnel mine routes; and hauling ammunition for dismounted mortar platoons. It also can serve as a mobile communications platform, towed artillery ammunition carrier, network retransmission platform and robotic weapon system and can be used in resupplying ammunition, barrier materials for obstacles and food and water.

During the demonstration, a CaMEL in ‘lighten-the-load’ configuration will traverse the Squad-Multipurpose Equipment Transport course, and an armed robotic CaMEL platform – known as the Mobile Armed Dismount Support System - will also participate in wireless live firing of an armed UGV.
 
Along with other robotic systems, the equipment will assist the US Army to develop requirements in categories including operational range, speed, load-bearing capacity, navigation options (tethered, wireless and autonomous), mobility and maneuverability in various terrain, obstacle detection and avoidance and energy efficiency.

Phil Coker, director of the Integrated Platform Solutions business at Northrop Grumman's Information Systems sector, said: ‘CaMEL is a multifunction platform that can quickly transform from supporting troops to protecting troops as an armed wingman, increasing the firepower of dismounted platoon and company manoeuvre units. Its hybrid engine allows the armed CaMEL to operate very quietly - a real plus on the battlefield - and travel farther to provide firepower where it's needed.’

CaMEL's hybrid design - diesel engine combined with a battery - provides more than 20 hours of continuous operations on 3.5 gallons of fuel and produces power that can be exported and used for charging batteries or powering other systems.

‘Power is one of the biggest challenges on the battlefield. CaMEL is an innovative solution that reaches out and touches power in a new way - it's a robotic transport and weapons platform that actually generates, not just uses, power,’ Coker added.