Accident Response Mobile Manipulator System (ARMMS)

Description

There was a time when a possible accident involving nuclear weapons or other hazardous material meant people risking their lives in recovery and remediation efforts. But now, ARMMS (Accident Response Mobile Manipulator System) changes that potentially deadly scenario. Sandia National Laboratories Mobile Robotics Department, in conjunction with the Department of Energy's Accident Response Group (ARG), has developed a sophisticated response unit with both vehicular and robotic characteristics that will support salvage and recovery operations that previously would have put people in harm's way.

Using a military Humvee (HMMWV) as a basic platform, ARMMS was developed with the full range of capabilities necessary to provide comprehensive accident response. It can be deployed in a teleoperational capacity using a single fiber optic cable that provides ARMMS a range of up to four kilometers, or remotely via a radio frequency (RF) communication link. In the event of damage to the fiber optic cable, the RF system automatically kicks in for vehicle movement or retrieval. ARMMS can also be driven like a regular Humvee and carries an equipment shelter that can be deployed as a command post for teleoperated activities. Besides providing teleoperational capabilities the fiber optic cable communication system interfaces with a Portable Integrated Video System (PIVS) for surveillance capabilities. Both the driving camera and a camera mounted on a 20 foot telescoping mast are equipped with zoom lenses and positioners to survey surrounding terrain. An on-board mapping and sensor suite detects and locates radioactive debris and hazardous gases.

Features

• Highly mobile, four wheel drive vehicle
• Two Schilling titanium manipulator arms
• Lifting capability 250 pounds at full extension of 78 inches
• Computer controlled manipulator arm operation
• Global Positioning System (GPS) with one meter accuracy
• Navigation mapping system
• Hazardous gas and radiation sensor package
• Five on-board video cameras
• All-weather command/control shelter with stand-alone power source
• Fiber-optic cable deployment system
• Back-up RF control system
• Communications mast telescoping to 20 ft.