Israel's new 'RoBattle' bot is built with swappable modules that change its abilities

RoBattle (Israel Aerospace industries)

Although it tends look to the sky, Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) came back down to Earth to develop RoBattle, an unmanned ground vehicle (UGV) that may soon be tasked with the type of risky missions typically assigned to foot soldiers.

IAI's UGV is built to be maneuverable, dynamic, and tough. Six wheels with independent suspension enable RoBattle to scale obstacles, such as rubble and small walls, to access areas that would typically be out of reach for other robots. A modular robotic kit allows the machine to be modified and adapted with remote vehicle control, navigation, and real time mapping abilities, depending on its operational needs.

RoBattle can operate independently or as support unit for convoy protection, decoy, ambush, attack, intelligence, surveillance, or armed reconnaissance, according to IAI. It even dons a lightweight remote weapon station called Pitbull, which includes a range of sensors that help the robot "see" in daytime, night time, and limited visibility operations.

"The RoBattle system is based on IAI's vast experience and heritage in development and manufacturing of unmanned systems including unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs). With the modular 'robotic kit' methodology, designed to meet specific customer requirements, RoBattle is one of the most advanced combat, maneuvering, ground robotics in the market." said IAI's Deputy general manager of ground robotics systems, Meir Shabtai, in a statement.

RoBattle is the newest in a line of UGV developed by IAI and other military organizations around the world. IAI already offers robots such as Sahar, an IED detection and routing clearing machine, and Guardium, a UGV specifically designed for border security and protection of assets. Meanwhile, inside the Warfighting Lab at Quantico, Virginia, the U.S. Marine Corps is develop battlefield UGVs that operate in teams with flying drones.