EU-RESPOND was presented for the EDA EURIdea consisting of the use of robots for CBRNE and IED neutralisation events. Presentation by Marco Manso - RINICOM at the 6th December 2013 in Athens, Greece.

1. EU-RESPOND
European Unmanned Robotic Systems
Responding to CBRNE Defence Incidents
EU-RESPOND will study and experiment new ways of
operations considering the use of robots in responding to
CBRNE and IED neutralisation events.
The Problem: response involves deploying personnel
(wearing PPE) to the "hot zone” thus exposing them to
high risks to health and safety
The Opportunity: developments in robotics, sensors,
automation / artificial intelligence, miniaturisation,
computing power, memory-storage, communications,
energy-efficiency, etc – robotic systems can replace
humans in particular military tasks.
Keep humans in safe zones !
Example of personnel
Example of personnel
involved in CCor BB
involved in or
response. Necessary
response. Necessary
PPE is uncomfortable
PPE is uncomfortable
and does not
and does not
eliminate all risks
eliminate all risks
UCL innovative
UCL innovative
biological Light
biological Light
Fieldable Laboratory
Fieldable Laboratory
(LFL) for
(LFL) for
Emergencies. Using
Emergencies. Using
Robots would be aa
Robots would be
major step forward.
major step forward.

2. EU-RESPOND
ASTRIUM: role of indoorEuropean Unmanned Roboticof indoorASTRIUM: role Systems
outdoor observation and
Responding to CBRNEoutdoor observation and
Defence Incidents
The Proposal: Study the method and doctrine of using a URS
collective to respond to a CBRNE and IED events – which
missions and to what extent? Address:
- existing/required URS capabilities
- special needs (e.g., decontamination) / technology limitations
CATEC SARA
CATEC SARA
- communications/networking/positioning requirements
System: role of
System: role of
- supervisory/collaborative role of Human operators
aerial URS
aerial URS
- cooperation strategies between URS (homogeneous /
hetereogeneous)
- organisational impact: personnel, logistics, environment, …
- potential dual use (incl. synergies with EC security research)
PIAP Ground
PIAP Ground
- standardisation
USR:
USR:
- multi-mission: e.g., Search and Rescue, localisation of victims
- -characteristics,
characteristics,
Challenges: CBRNE/IED are Dangerous, Dirty but not Dull.
subsystems, level
subsystems, level
It is a complex/unstructured environment.
of autonomy, ...
of autonomy, ...
Possible Project Stages:
- -Standardisation
Standardisation
Phase 1:
Phase 1:
Study
Study
URS Demo
URS Demo
Phase 2:
Phase 2:
Prototype
Prototype
USR Demo
USR Demo
Phase 3:
Phase 3:
Operational
Operational
Demonstrations
Demonstrations
positioning & support
positioning & support
(communications, energy
(communications, energy
transfer, S&R...)
transfer, S&R...)
RINICOM:
communications
requirements

3. EU-RESPOND
Military Exploitation:
Better understanding of the role of USRs in military operations
(CBRNE and IED neutralisation missions) and its dual-use
potential. The scope of the study is broad and includes the
possible doctrines of use, benefits and introduction of new
capabilities in CONOPS (to be addressed), equipment (sensors,
actuators and communications) and standards.
Exploitation by European future defence capabilities:
•Assisting in the transformation of military forces towards more
professional and smaller (workload taken by robots);
•Increasing personnel safety by deploying robots instead of
humans (also dealing with an increasing media/public pressure
and scrutiny);
•Increasing mission effectiveness (by obtaining higher levels of
reach and deployability thanks to robots);
•Bring innovation to European Defence (by the operational use
of advanced robotics systems).
•Benefit when possible from synergies with EC R&T projects
Link to CapTech: IAP4 (CIS & Networks) and ESM2 (Aerial
Platforms)
European Unmanned Robotic Systems
Responding to CBRNE Defence Incidents
The Consortium:
ASTRIUM is a French industry that is world leader in the design and
manufacture of satellite systems. ASTRIUM has accumulated an experience
of more than 25 years covering all domains of autonomous systems:
observation (space, ground and in-door), telecommunication, robotics and
navigation
FADA-CATEC is a Spanish RTO dedicated to R&D in aerospace related
technologies supporting industries in coordination with universities and other
research centres. Its staff has been working in numerous UAV-related
research on aerial-ground integration and multi-robot collaboration
PIAP is a Polish public research institute with a interdisciplinary experience
in the realisation of unique solutions in the field of robotics, security, and
defence technologies. It is a manufacturer of mobile robots for military and
counter-terrorist and purposes
RINICOM is a UK SME manufacturer of bespoke wireless broadband
solutions for Security and Defence markets. Brings know-how on
communications, advanced networking technologies and surveillance
system for autonomous systems
Université catholique de Louvain - Center for Applied Molecular
Technologies is a technological platform in charge of Biological Threats
issues. UCL-CTMA develops its CBRNE expertise through the synergy
between the academic and the BE-Defence laboratories facilities, taking
advantage of in-house existing and emerging technologies,
multidisciplinarity as well as academic and military networking
POC: Marco Manso – RINICOM Ltd.
(marco@rinicom.com)