Northrop demos UGV for Army

FORT BENNING, Ga., Oct. 8 (UPI) -- Northrop Grumman's unmanned ground vehicle, the CaMEL, is being put through its paces this week at a robotics demonstration at Fort Benning, Ga.

The Carry-all Modular Equipment Landrover will participate in both parts of the U.S. Army Maneuver Center of Excellence Robotics Limited Demonstration: the first as a transport for equipment, and the second as a weapons platform.

"CaMEL is a multifunction platform that can quickly transform from supporting troops to protecting troops as an armed wingman, increasing the firepower of dismounted platoon and company maneuver units," said Phil Coker, director of the Integrated Platform Solutions business at Northrop Grumman's Information Systems sector. "Its hybrid engine allows the armed CaMEL to operate very quietly -- a real plus on the battlefield -- and travel farther to provide firepower where it's needed."

CaMEL is a mid-sized unmanned ground vehicle. It is a six-wheel drive vehicle with removable tracks for a variety of missions, from transporting 1,000 pounds of equipment and ammunition, to casualty evacuation, to robotics weapons platform.

It is powered by a diesel engine with a battery that produces power from the engine for use in powering other systems. The vehicle has a maximum speed of 5 miles per hour across rough terrain.

The annual Maneuver Center's Robotics Limited Demonstration gives industry the opportunity to showcase new and innovative UGVs.