Northrop Grumman Unveils Next-Gen Unmanned Ground Vehicle

Northrop Grumman announced Thursday that its subsidiary Remotec has unveiled the Andros FX(TM), a more capable and dexterous unmanned ground vehicle.

The new unmanned ground vehicle is designed to defeat a wide range of threats, including vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices (VBIED).

The features of the Andros FX(TM) are the four track pods that replace the traditional Andros articulators and a new arm design with more lift capacity and greater dexterity by adding roll joints that provide nine degrees of freedom.

The unmanned ground vehicle also features updated system electronics, mobility improvements for increased speed and maneuverability, and a new touchscreen operator control unit with 3-D system graphics, advanced manipulator controls and improved user interface.

Walt Werner, director, Northrop Grumman Remotec said, "Bomb squads have told us what they need most are more capabilities to counter vehicle-borne IEDs,"

"Andros FX(TM) was designed from the ground up based on that feedback to give the bomb tech community the most advanced technology while at the same time making the system easier to use and maintain to keep danger at a distance." Werner added.

The Andros FX(TM)’s operating system provides much greater information to the operator while easing user workload through more interactivity with intelligent payloads such as chemical and radiation sensors. Preset arm positions and the ability to "fly the gripper" make manipulation of objects much easier, faster and more accurate.

Increased cross-functional involvement early in the design phase results in a much lower lifecycle cost as well as a product that can be quickly adapted for a variety of missions, easily upgraded and expanded, and more efficiently maintained, Werner added.

Northrop Grumman Remotec will make pricing available in December 2015 and begin taking orders for the Andros FX in April 2016.