Unmanned Systems Technology 026 I Tecdron TC800-FF I Propellers I USVs I AUVSI 2019 part 1 I Robby Moto UAVE I Singular Aircraft FlyOx I Teledyne SeaRaptor I Simulation & Testing I Ocean Business 2019 report

32 Dossier | Tecdron TC800-FF What’s more, the nature of the missions sees the UGV being sent into situations that are too dangerous for people, such as fires in tunnels, mines or underground parking structures for example, and onto sites where there are serious risks of explosion, such as warehouses or petrochemical plants. Mechanically, all the key components such as the motors, batteries and electronics are sealed into enclosures that protect them from fluid and dust/ grit ingress to the IP66 standard. Also, the batteries are housed in double enclosures (internal and external) to provide an extra layer of passive thermal protection. Software-related protection measures are embodied in the monitoring system to let the operator know the robot’s exact state of health. Mammana says, “It is very important for firefighters to know the robot’s limits and where they can send it. By the temperature of its motors, its batteries, the current draw and voltage – even the amount of power available – it gives them a clear vision of how they can use the robot during the mission. He adds that the TC800-FF will also adjust automatically to the state of its components, reducing its power and/ or activating its onboard cooling system if one of its motors gets too hot, for example. Staying cool To protect it in the hottest environments to which it is likely to be exposed, the TC800-FF is fitted with an active cooling system of Tecdron’s own design. This consists of a set of pipes and nozzles that draw water from the main hose that feeds the main water cannon and sprays it onto the vehicle’s most critical components. These include the computer enclosure, the battery boxes, the electric motors and the tracks. Tecdron emphasises that this system can be adapted to different vehicle and mission system configurations, and either one nozzle or several can be positioned to spray water onto selected components, including the effectors and sensors. The length of time for which this system can protect the TC800-FF obviously depends on the water supply, but Mammana says they have tested the cooling system at ambient temperatures up to 500 C, and that after 20 minutes the robot’s average temperature was less than 45 C. In total, Tecdron has completed more than 700 hours of testing with the TC800- FF. Mammana says that most of this has been carried out under extreme conditions, including temperatures exceeding 500 C, for long periods over complex test routes and with the maximum payload. The measures taken to ensure it can survive and operate in such environments are also likely to enable it to handle other demanding jobs. Mammana says Tecdron has some customers in the defence and nuclear sectors for different applications, and anticipates more within months. June/July 2019 | Unmanned Systems Technology Payload: 800 kg Maximum power: 12 kW Maximum torque: 2000 Nm Dimensions: 156.4 x 65 x 77 cm Incline: 45° Side incline: 40° Obstacle clearance: 30 cm Traction force: 12,500 N Weight: 480-500 kg depending on accessories, 1300 kg all up with maximum payload Speed: 3.5 kph Endurance: 4-6 hours Charging time: 2-5 hours (depending on the charger) Electrical power: removable lithium-ion batteries Control system: radio and/or wired Monitoring: real-time robot monitoring (temperature, power, voltage), data logger Pulling power: 200 m of fire hose containing water Sealing: complies with the IP66 standard Command interface: remote control and/or rugged tablet and/or smartphone (Windows, Android, iOS) Some key suppliers Monitor (water cannon): Akron Brass Camera system: Exavision Fan: Leader Group Batteries: Neogy Motor controller: Roboteq GNSS: SBG Systems Datasheet The TC800-FF can be fitted with an emergency cooling system that sprays water from the main supply over the vehicle to protect it from temperatures as high as 500 C (Courtesy of Tecdron)