ELROB 2006
About
Dear participants, spectators, and roboticists,
The German Federal Armed Forces would like to thank all of you for making the 1st European Land-Robot Trial 2006 (ELROB 2006) such a great success. The 20 participants from 5 European countries gave an impressive performance for the spectators coming from 19 countries all over the world. The ELROB was conducted in order to provide an overview of the European state-of-the-art in the field of UGVs with focus on short-term realizable robot systems. With regard to available capabilities, the organisers sought to promote innovative technical approaches that will enable the operation of unmanned ground vehicles (UGV). Representatives of military, border patrol, special forces, police, fire brigades, and civil protection agencies from the major European countries attended. The ELROB was accompanied with a comprehensive exhibition covering a wide variety of robotics aspects.
- Capability show of the European state-of-the-art in the field of UGVs with focus on short-term realizable robot systems
- 2006 host: The German Federal Armed Forces
- 20 participants from 5 European countries
- Spectators from 19 countries worldwide
- ELROB was accompanied with a comprehensive fair (67 exhibitors)
- User defined realistic scenarios for urban and non-urban terrains
- Focus: Mobility and reconnaissance / surveillance
- About 50 articles and 15 TV reports within 10 days worldwide
Due to the reorientation of the Bundeswehr with an extended spectrum of tasks in conflict prevention and crisis management including the fight against international terrorism, the armed forces are heading for new demands. This holds also for most of the other European forces. Robotics is one option for the intelligent substitution of personnel on highly dangerous and tedious operations. Such unmanned systems allow considerable improvement in the protection of soldiers. This applies to reconnaissance and combat operations as well as to handling or manipulating hazardous materials (e.g. NBC, mine detection). The employment of robot systems on the ground is imperative for protracted activities and/or for activities under threat. Unmanned systems enable the soldier to enhance his protection considerably by substantially increasing the distance between him and the scene of operation. Furthermore, the employment of this technology allows accommodating the limited funds in the military sector and the increased need for opportunities of personnel cutbacks. Against the background of this fundamental new situation and the permanent requirement for more economy of manpower and funds, the Bundeswehr and other European forces are consolidating and realigning their R&T activities in the area of robotics.
Facing the reorientation of the Bundeswehr and the increasing interest of other European armed forces the ELROB is conducted by the German Federal Armed Forces in order to provide an overview of the European state of the art in the field of UGVs. With regard to available capabilities, the organisers seek to promote innovative technical approaches that will enable the operation of unmanned ground vehicles (UGV). These ground vehicles will have to navigate in a predefined scenario in an intelligent manner to avoid or accommodate to obstacles including nearby vehicles and other impediments. Therefore, ELROB is a field test of UGVs on realistic terrain and specific performance goals for distance and speed. Representatives of military, border patrol, special forces, police, fire brigades, and civil protection agencies from the major European countries will attend. The ELROB will be accompanied with a comprehensive exhibition covering a wide variety of robotics aspects. As a result, ELROB will draw widespread attention to the technology issues associated with UGVs. Entrants should be motivated to overcome the obstacles to the realization of truly robust UGVs. The event challenges the most capable and innovative companies, institutions, and entrepreneurs from Europe to produce breakthroughs in capability and performance. NOTE: This is not a challenge in the sense of a competition or contest. Nevertheless, it is a challenge in the sense of coping with the scenarios and requirements of the user.
Organisers
The event is jointly organised by the following institutions related to the German Federal Armed Forces:
- German Ministry of Defence (BMVg)
- Research Establishment for Applied Science (FGAN, now: Fraunhofer FKIE)
- NATO IST-058 / RTG-024
Chief Judge Team
Henrik I. Christensen
- EUropean RObotics research Network (EURON)
Major i.G. Letellier
- Fü H III 2 (German Federal Armed Forces, Army Staff)
OTL i.G. Geilen
- HA I 1 (1) (German Federal Armed Forces, Army Office)
M. Sielemann
- Rü IV 4 (German Directorate General of Armaments)
BOR Pfaendner
- WTD 81-320 (German Federal Armed Forces Technical Centre for Information Technology and Electronics)
BDir Kraiczy
- BWB T5.1 (German Federal Office of Defense Technology and Procurement)
Frank E. Schneider
- Research Establishment for Applied Science (FGAN, now: Fraunhofer FKIE)
- Head of European Robotics
Scenarios
Non-urban scenario: Mobility in non-urban terrains
Terrain:
Outdoor, mixed countryside
Task:
Drive pre-designated route, make as much distance as possible.
Environment:
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.
Course of Action:
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 scenario: Tactical awareness in urban environments
Terrain:
Urban, both outdoor and indoor
Task:
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.
Environment:
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:
- grassland (incl. molehills, bark mulch)
- cobbled street
- small bridge or trench / moat
- partially collapsed building
- barbed wire (as a kind of road blocking)
- fire and smoke
- house with low light condition (almost no light)
- small passages
- closed doors (you have to push and/or pull to open)
- stairs or ramps
- radio deadspots / radio shadows and concrete walls
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).
Course of Action:
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 scenario: Detection and removal of IED in urban terrain and UXO detection in non-urban terrain
Terrain:
EOD/IED: Urban, both outdoor and indoor
EOD/UXO: Outdoor, mixed countryside
Task:
Navigate in pre-designated area, detect points of interest, identify, locate and record, report results to commander.
Environment:
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:
- Inspect a car
- Inspect a lorry
- Inspect a building (this includes entering the building and operating inside)
Course of Action:
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.
Participating Teams
Exhibition / Static Display
The following exhibitors took part in the ELROB 2006 static display:
- AIM Infrarot-Module GmbH, Germany
- AirRobot, Germany
- Autoflug Steuerungs- und SensorTechnik GmbH, Germany
- biggAIR, Germany
- CYBERNETIX, France
- Diehl BGT Defence GmbH & Co. KG, Germany
- EADS Defence & Comm. Systems, Germany
- EADS Defence & Security LFK, Germany
- EMT (FanCopter), Germany
- ESG, Germany
- Voos Robotics + Control e.K, Hochschule RAV, Inst. Robotik/Mechatronik, Germany
- FGAN – FKIE, Germany
- Helsinki University of Technology, Automation Technology Laboratory, Finland
- IABG mbH – Technische Analysen Landsysteme, Germany
- Ingenieurbetrieb Kunze IKHF GmbH, Germany
- Isomorph, Italy
- Kontron Embedded Computers, Germany
- MACROSWISS S.A., Switzerland
- MOONBUGGY LTD, United Kingdom
- ND SatCom Defence GmbH, Germany
- OmniSTAR, Netherlands
- QinetiQ, United Kingdom
- Remotec UK Ltd, United Kingdom
- Rheinmetall Defence Electronics GmbH, Germany
- Rheinmetall Land Systeme GmbH, Germany
- Robosoft, France
- Robowatch Technologies GmbH, Germany
- telerob Gesellschaft für Fernhantierungstechnik mbH, Germany
- THALES Land & Joint Systems, Business Segment Robotics & Mini-UAV, Germany
- University of the Bundeswehr Munich, Germany
- VTQ Videotronik GmbH, Germany
Official Results
The objective of the ELROB 2006 event was to demonstrate the capabilities of currently available European mobile unmanned ground systems and not to conduct a competition like the DARPA Grand Challenge.
To enable the attendance of a broad spectrum of unmanned systems the participation terms were only limited to the following rules:
- the vehicle must be unmanned
- the vehicle must move by ground contact
- the vehicle must weigh less then three metric tonnes
Following the concerns of the industry participants, no contest was conducted, and no official evaluation or ranking will be published. Thereby the overall goal of ELROB was to present a comprehensive overview about current developments and possibilities for the use of robotic capabilities in the context of military operations.
- Ergonomics of the human-machine interface
- Communication in urban and non-urban domain under difficult conditions
- Mobility in non-urban terrain
- Agility in narrow urban structures
- Navigation and manoeuvring under difficult conditions
- Demonstration of stair-climbing capability
- Use of elevatable manipulators
- Movement and interaction inside buildings
- Recognition and circumnavigation of obstacles
- Moving on pathless terrain
- Manoeuvring at high inclination angles
- Communication and navigation without sight
