HDT Engineered Technologies, a leading deployable solution provider for US defense, has decided to showcase its innovative robotic arm for defense applications called MK-1. It is fixed on a raised robot surface at the AUVSI 2010 (Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International), which is to be held in Denver from August 24 to 27. The company has also planned to give live demos of MK-1 to the visitors.
MK-1
The robotic arm, MK-1 finds its application in explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) for defense security. The latest MK-1 developed by HDT has a mounting kit offering wire free and platform free interface. It has a visual perception in three dimensions. It also incorporates a hi-fi system, an advanced joy stick controller with a 10 degree freedom which is a USB accomplice to the operator controller unit (OCU) software supporting Linux and Windows OS.
Major features of the robotic arm include superior control with a humanoid agility and a high pay load capability. MK-1 has 12 activated degrees of freedom with 18 distinct joints which help in clasping various shaped objects. The robotic arm has three fingers. The 10 separate joints present in the arm are activated by four operators. The arm and wrist also include six distinct modules with seven degrees of freedom and can also be supported on any tracked robot platform on the market, making this technology adaptable for current or future applications.
According to Tom Van Doren, Ph.D., Vice President of Robotics Systems for HDT, MK1 has incorporated technologically advanced software, thereby allowing the robot to perform effectively in military and home land security applications. It also helps in reducing idle time incurred during protecting the military personnel.
Vince Nardy, CEO of HDT stated that this new advancement in robotics will be of great help to defense personnel in terms of saving many lives and will have a major effect in the defense market.