Robotic Research has secured a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II contract from the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) in the US.
Under the two-year contract, the company will work to enhance the capacity of its Pegasus Mini hybrid uncrewed system. Work will include upgrading the system’s airframe, battery, and computing and sensing capabilities.
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This comes as DTRA plans to add the Pegasus Mini system into the Modular Autonomous Counter-WMD, Increment B (MACS-B) programme.
Robotic Research Advanced Programs director George McWilliams said: “Early on, DTRA recognised how the warfighter could benefit from a hybrid unmanned system that both flies and drives.
“With their support, we created an initial Pegasus Mini prototype, and we now are advancing it further.”
Pegasus Mini is a member of the Pegasus family of autonomous robotic systems. It weighs just 4lb and can fit into a rucksack.
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By GlobalDataAccording to the Robotic Research website, Pegasus Mini was developed as a situational awareness tool. However, the system can carry small payloads and operate in GPS-denied environments.
It has an endurance of 30 minutes in flight mode and can operate for two hours when on ground.
McWilliams added: “Pegasus Mini can fly into three-storey windows. It can perch and stare. It can autonomously navigate, explore and map enemy tunnel systems.
“We see it as being a critical element in DTRA’s family of robotic systems as well as a powerful tool in the hands of other users.”
The SBIR Phase II is set to end in June 2023.
