ELROB 2006

The event is jointly organised by the following institutions related to the German Federal Armed Forces:

Outdoor, mixed countryside

Drive pre-designated route, make as much distance as possible.

The maximum route is not longer than 1000 meters, there are slopes up to 40 degrees. It may include paved and unpaved roads, trails, and off-road desert areas. Examples of obstacles include ditches, berms, washboard, sandy ground, standing water, fire, rocks and boulders, narrow underpasses, construction equipment, barbed wire fences and cattle guards. In addition to the existing natural obstacles, the organisers might place obstacles (e.g. military equipment) on the route that may disable a vehicle if struck. These obstacles must be detected and circumnavigated by a vehicle to successfully complete the route. The terrain is wide enough for vehicles to bypass these obstacles if necessary. The main route and the by-pass routes will be tagged with coloured markers so that they can be recognised by the operator via camera.

On the first day (Monday) you will have the possibility to inspect the route (all participants; by foot only, no robots or vehicles; the use of cameras, GPS, etc. to gather data is allowed). You will also receive a drawn map/air photo of the scenario and route. On the trial day, you have to place your operator station in a designated tent. This has to be done approx. 15min. before your starting time. Your vehicle has to be placed in the start chute. This has to be done approx. 15min. before your starting time. On the start command, the operator will start the vehicle. The vehicle will follow the designated route (or by-pass). The time for the whole trial is about 25min. An observer team is following the vehicle through the complete trial. After finishing the trial, stop transmitting; remove your operator station and your vehicle.

Urban, both outdoor and indoor

Drive and explore route, detect building to explore, inspect outside of defined building, enter building, search rooms (probably low light and collapsed), find designated objects, and report results to official observer.

The maximum route is not longer than 500m. It may include paved and unpaved roads. Examples of obstacles include standing water, fire and smoke, boulders, narrow underpasses, construction equipment, concrete safety rails, power line towers, barbed wire fences, and cattle guards. In addition to the existing natural obstacles, the organisers might place obstacles (e.g. military equipment) on the route that may disable a vehicle if struck. The buildings may be partially collapsed. These obstacles must be detected and circumnavigated for a vehicle to successfully complete the route. To enter the houses and floors there will be stairs and ramps if necessary.

The urban trial includes:

The main route and the by-pass routes will be tagged with coloured markers so that they can be recognised by the operator via camera. The objects to recognise are red with a white cross (similar to the Swiss flag).

On the first day (Monday) you will have the possibility to inspect the route (all participants; by foot only, no robots or vehicles; the use of cameras, GPS, etc. to gather data is allowed). You will also receive a drawn map / air photo of the scenario and route. On the trial day, you have to place your operator station in a pre-designated building / tent. This has to be done approx. 15min. before your starting time. In addition, if necessary, you can place a repeater station for your communication in a pre-designated place. This has to be done approx. 15min. before your starting time. Your vehicle has to be placed in the start chute. This has to be done approx. 15min. before your starting time. There is NO line of sight between the operator station and the start chute! On the start command, the operator will start the vehicle. The vehicle will follow the pre-designated route (or by-pass). While doing so the designated objects have to be recognised and counted. At the end of the trial, the operator will report the number and location of recognised objects to the official observer (will be present in the operator station). The time for the whole trial is about 20min. An observer team is following the vehicle through the complete trial. After finishing the trial, stop transmitting; remove your operator station and your vehicle.

EOD/IED: Urban, both outdoor and indoor
EOD/UXO: Outdoor, mixed countryside

Navigate in pre-designated area, detect points of interest, identify, locate and record, report results to commander.

UXO: The UXO scenario is basically a search (and pick-up) mission for UneXploded Ordnance. You have to find the UXO, pick it up (if you are able to), and report it to the official observer. The maximum operational area for UXO is not larger than 20×20 meters. The maximum distance to the pre-designated area is no longer than 100m. The area consists of grassland (incl. molehills, bark mulch). In addition to the existing natural obstacles, the organisers might place obstacles (e.g. military equipment) in the operational area that may disable a vehicle if struck. These obstacles must be detected and circumnavigated by a vehicle to successfully complete the trial.

IED: The IED scenario is basically a search (and pick-up) mission for Improvised Explosive Devices. You have to find the IED, pick it up (if you are able to), and report it to the official observer. The maximum operational area for IED is not larger than 50×20 meters. The maximum distance to the pre-designated area is no longer than 150m. The area consists of grassland (incl. molehills, bark mulch), paved regions, unpaved regions, trails. In addition to the existing natural obstacles, the organisers might place obstacles (e.g. military equipment) in the operational area that may disable a vehicle if struck. These obstacles must be detected and circumnavigated by a vehicle to successfully complete the trial.

There will be there different possibilities to show your IED capabilities:

On the first day (Monday) you will have the possibility to inspect the scenario (all participants; by foot only, no robots or vehicles; the use of cameras, GPS, etc. to gather data is allowed). You will also receive a drawn map / air photo of the scenario. On the trial day, you have to place your operator station in a designated tent. This has to be done approx. 15min. before your starting time. Your vehicle has to be placed in the start chute. This has to be done approx. 15min. before your starting time. There is NO line of sight between the operator station and the start chute! On the start command, the operator will start the vehicle. At the end of the trial, the operator will report the number of recognised objects to the official observer (will be present in the operator station). The time for the whole trial is up to 60min. maximum. An observer team is following the vehicle through the complete trial. After finishing the trial, stop transmitting; remove your operator station and your vehicle.

The following exhibitors took part in the ELROB 2006 static display: