posted on Mar, 6 2007 @ 02:48 PM
The TALONĀ® robot is a battery powered, track-based mobile platform that has been specifically designed for irregular and challenging terrain.
The robot is relatively light (man-transportable), but stable and maneuverable in varying ground conditions. It can be configured into different
sizes and functions, including stealthy reconnaissance, intruder attack, underwater surveillance and remote sensor/monitoring. The basic platform is
designed to be physically compatible with related hardware, weapons and sensor systems. More than 80 different payloads have been developed or
adapted and mounted on the TALON robot platform including the following lethal and non-lethal payloads:
Gripper manipulator.
Smoke dropping module.
Grenade dropping module.
Breaching tool.
Night vision camera.
NBC sensors.
UXO/countermine systems/sensors.
Anti-Tank (AT4) launcher.
Light Anti-Tank Weapon (LAW) launcher.
40-mm grenade launcher (M203 barrel).
12-gauge shotgun.
Mounts for remotely controlled weapons including: M240; M249: M16; M82A1 (50-cal).
A smaller version of the TALON robot is available for reconnaissance missions where a low profile platform is required for stealth. Another version
is used for underwater missions including inspection of the surf zone and countermine operations. TALON robots have been used in Special Operations
missions including EOD and reconnaissance operations in Bosnia, Afghanistan and Iraq. They were used in search and recovery missions at the World
Trade Center after the Sept. 11 attack.
The robots are designed as rugged, all-weather platforms capable of operating reliably in desert or beach sand, snow, water, grassy or wooded terrain,
and inside buildings. TALON robots are untethered and remotely operated, able to climb stairs, sustain falls and right themselves, and can be lowered
into a landing zone from a helicopter, dropped from moving vehicles and thrown overboard offshore. The TALON robot is the only mobile platform
currently certified by the Department of Defense for remotely controlled live firing of lethal weapons.