Rook Unmanned Ground Vehicle (UGV): Israeli defence company Elbit Systems and unmanned ground vehicle manufacturer Roboteam Tuesday launched a six-wheeled multi-payload unmanned ground vehicle ROOK UGV for military users.
ROOK UGV features unique design and built-in autonomy suite offering a combination of greater capacity, improved maneuverability and must-have on-field agility that are key for greater mission effectiveness, Elbit Systems said.
The ROOK UGV was developed based on the operational experience accumulated through fielding of the 4×4 PROBOT UGV systems in several countries including the USA, France, Israel and the UK.
Israeli defence company said the ROOK was designed from scratch as a robotic UGV platform in compliance with applicable military standards, applying modular box structure enabling on-field components replacement with no need for qualified technician or OEM lab maintenance, and efficient upgrades and modification without OEM involvement.
READ: Indian Navy receives fourth Scorpene class submarine INS Vela
“A built-in TORCH-X Robotic and Autonomous (RAS) application, provides ROOK with full autonomy and the capability to efficiently navigating rough terrain, during both day and night to deliver supplies, evacuate casualties, perform intelligence gathering missions (including by dispatching on-board VTOLs), and operate as a remote weapon system,” Elbit Systems said in a statement sent to Defence Star.
Rook Unmanned Ground Vehicle (UGV)
With self-weight of 1,200 kilogram, low center of gravity and ground clearance of 24 centimeters, ROOK is capable of carrying up to 1.2 ton of payloads while maintaining superior maneuverability and transferability.
READ: Rolls-Royce pitches MT30 engines to Indian Navy
Full compliance with the UGV Interoperability Profile (IOP) turns ROOK into a multi-payload platform providing users with seamless plug and play payload integration, it added.
Using modular hybrid energy configuration of batteries and optional internal generator, ROOK provides operational endurance of up to 8 drive hours and a speed of 30 kilometer per hour.
READ: Agni-5: Amid rising tensions with China, India fires long-range missile
ROOK is operated either through the TORCH-X RAS application or through an all-weather 7-inch ruggedized display unit, enabling a single operator to control several unmanned systems.
READ: Rheinmetall, UVision join hands to build, market loitering munitions in Europe