ECA - Mobile Security and CBRN Robots

ECA designs and manufactures unmanned systems for inspection and intervention tasks covering the needs of different markets such as the defence, security, nuclear and chemical industries. ECA provides a turnkey service of product design, development, production and worldwide logistic support.

ECA's range of mobile ground robots consists of throwable remote-controlled mini robots for audio and video inspection, small mobile vehicles capable of obstacle clearance, and modular mobile payload platforms for security and defence operations.

URBAN WARFARE AND SECURITY MINI-ROBOT

INBOT is a 2.1kg remote-controlled mini-robot equipped with three cameras for fast deployment in harsh and dangerous environments. Applications include audio and video inspection and survey missions in the context of urban warfare, security, and anti-terrorist attacks.

MOBILE INSPECTION AND NEUTRALISATION VEHICLE

COBRA is a remote-controlled mobile vehicle for inspection and neutralisation in an environment that is very difficult to access. It carries accessories such as small disruptors, lasers and sensors. High shock-resistance and reversibility allow them to be launched through a window, providing safe inspection before any human intervention.

SURVEILLANCE, DETECTION, MAPPING AND CBRN ROBOT

PRM, a remote-controlled lightweight robot of 25kg, is the only robot capable of receiving different existing and customised payloads for missions such as IEDD, EOD, surveillance, detection, localisation and mapping, CBRN, and automatic protection.

The plug-and-play modular concept developed by ECA for this robot allows easy reconfiguration of mission modules. It can be deployed in many locations (including flats, urban areas, military bases, airports, aeroplanes and subways).

Experiments conducted in conjunction with the French Fire Department have enabled ECA to finalise a radiological and chemical detection mission module incorporating off-the-shelf sensors.

DANGEROUS-OBJECT MANIPULATION AND NEUTRALISATION ROBOT

The EOD / IEDD mobile robot TSR 202 is used wherever human intervention is risky, such as:

• Remote manipulation in difficult or dangerous environments
• Neutralisation of dangerous objects (explosive systems and booby traps) by specialised security services

With its specific new options (portable control panel, extended 500m range transmission, automatic umbilical stowing system, and PROPARM and RICHEMOND cannon fitting) the TSR202 can address all types of EOD / IEDD missions.

UV SHEPHARD ECA ROBOTS

The urban combat robots jointly developed by ECA and the DGA were awarded the title of 'Best 2007 Product' at the Unmanned Vehicles (UV) Shephard review in Paris. The prize comes as a reward for the development efforts made since 2004 in the field of multi-mission robots capable of performing a vast range of missions in complex environments.

URBAN COMBAT ROBOT TESTS

The urban robot combat tests performed during the first quarter of 2007 by the DGA (a French defence procurement agency) and French Army demonstrated the efficiency of robots in potentially highly complex urban environments. The robots and their various payloads (15 in all) proved to be fully satisfactory, hence confirming the pertinence of the joint efforts made by ECA / DGA in the field of robot architecture development.