Unmanned boats with the ability to work autonomously

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Unmanned boats with the ability to work autonomously

A few days ago, a prototype of a new military equipment was tested off the coast of the US state of Maryland. The remote-controlled boat entered the training area and launched a Spike anti-tank missile attack. Training rocket launch was considered successful. Behind a couple of lines of text is a big job and no less great prospects. The PEM project (Precision Engagement Module - “High-Precision Battle Module”) was launched with the aim of creating a set of equipment that will allow you to make a full-fledged combat unit out of a light water craft that can cope with a large number of tasks.

Remote-controlled boats and boats have the same great prospects as flying Drones. Theoretically, this class of technology is capable of almost any task that can be assigned to a combat or transport vessel. An unmanned vessel can carry cargo, including in difficult conditions, without endangering the crew. The same can be said about remotely controlled boats with weapons. In addition, the absence of the need to ensure the work of the crew, such equipment can be smaller and / or carry more ammunition. However, any military equipment with remote control is subject to "attack" from electronic warfare. The radio control channel can be jammed, which will render the unmanned aircraft or boat useless. In recent years, several projects have been launched to give unmanned boats and boats more independence, at least in terms of entering the task area.






One of the first to deal with this problem Israeli engineers from the company Rafael. In the middle of the two thousand years, they presented an unmanned boat Protector ("Defender"). This development is designed to patrol waters, intelligence and attack relevant targets. A characteristic feature of the on-board electronics "Defender" was the ability to switch control modes. Depending on the tactical situation and the need, the boat can be controlled over the air from a console on a ship or at a ground command post, and is also capable of performing some simple operations in a fully automatic mode. In the latter case, the electronics of the boat, using inertial and satellite navigation, can bring the craft to a given area, for example, where the target is located. Then control is transferred to the console and the operator can attack the target. According to some reports, the Protector, like unmanned aerial vehicles, has the ability to automatically return to the base in case of loss of the control signal. Rumor has it that now Rafael specialists are working on an automatic recognition and attack system for targets. Official data on this issue yet.

Structurally, the Protector boat is a modified rubber boat with a set of equipment installed on it. On a standard-looking boat, a special unit is installed with a superstructure. It is noteworthy that the latter has the characteristic contours characteristic of techniques with low radar visibility. At the top of the superstructure is a small mast with communication antennas, as well as a spherical housing of the optical system. The latter serves to collect visual information and its transfer to the operator. The optical system is installed on a rotating and swinging base, so that the operator can view almost all the surrounding space. Directly in front of the superstructure is the multipurpose stabilized Mini-Typhoon installation, designed for the target equipment chosen depending on the current target. This may be an optional intelligence module or weapon. In the case of the combat mission, the Defender bears a machine gun or a missile complex of suitable dimensions. Thus, the unmanned boat Protector can perform a wide range of different tasks. Some of these boats are in service with the Israeli Navy.

The high potential of the Israeli development quickly became interested in the US military, who soon bought several copies of Protector boats for testing and study. Over the years, American experts from Lockheed Martin and several other companies in the naval industry have carefully studied all the structural elements and made a number of useful conclusions. In addition, using Israeli practices, a PEM project was created, partially similar to Protector. At the same time, the Americans decided to significantly change the concept of using an unmanned boat. Their PEM should have a much greater impact potential, which in the future will significantly expand the range of tasks. It is worth noting that the installation of missile weapons on a boat is somewhat reminiscent of the well-proven idea of ​​a mosquito fleet. In addition to providing serious shock capabilities, the Americans are also going to make their boat as autonomous as possible. For these purposes, a unit for detecting and recognizing targets has been developed for several years.



After an attack using a boat with explosives (2000 year, Yemen), the destroyer URO “Cole” lost 17 people killed and 39 wounded. And large ships can be difficult to resist boats.


As a result of the design work, a combat complex should be created, which can automatically not only reach the target area, but also find and attack it. By now, the automatic control system is only partially ready: PEM can independently enter the target area using inertial or satellite navigation, but further execution of the combat mission remains the responsibility of the operator. As a matter of fact, this is exactly how the recent launch of the Spike rocket was made. After the launch of the launch, the operator launched a rocket. The choice of the type of anti-tank missile complex, in the first place, was due to the type of missile guidance. Spike ATGM is aimed at the target using an infrared head and, as a result, does not require additional equipment on board the boat. In the future, PEM can also receive anti-aircraft weapons, for example, FIM-92 Stinger missiles, which have the same targeting system as the Spike ATGM. However, in the case of relatively large anti-aircraft missiles will have to decide the question of the place for their installation.

In addition to the difficulties in creating electronics with full autonomy, there are certain problems with the base for such boats. At present, both the Israeli Protector and the American PEM are made on the basis of light, flat-bottomed, inflatable structures. It is not difficult to guess what is the seaworthiness of these floating UAVs. In fact, they can work only at a short distance from the coast or the base of the ship and are not able to act even with average agitation. The only tolerable way to improve the seaworthiness is to increase the size, but a larger floating craft is not yet appropriate and does not meet the requirements of the military. Thus, in the current state, the American PEM project is purely experimental and in the near future it will not be able to become full-fledged military equipment. As for the Israeli “Defender”, he has served in the naval forces of his country for several years. The characteristics of the territorial waters of Israel allow us not to strive for high characteristics of the course and to pay more attention to the onboard equipment. There is a different approach to the creation of technology, due to the different conditions and wishes of potential customers. With a high degree of probability, we can assume that PEM will ultimately remain just a platform for developing new technologies, which will later be used in other projects.


On the materials of the sites:
http://rafael.co.il/
http://defense-update.com/
http://israeldefense.com/
http://science.compulenta.ru/
http://dvice.com/
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15 comments
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  1. 0
    1 November 2012 10: 02
    And what is our problem to do the same?
    After all, the situation with simple drones is such that their simple versions can be done by everyone. Tomorrow in the Open Source may well appear parts of the software that are actually necessary for the dynamic recognition and identification of goals and the management of such an autonomous system.
    As a developer of the military-industrial complex, I would like to note that there is a wild difference between the money that is supposedly given to the budget of our projects and that money that is actually spent on the business.
    Indeed, at the same freelance, quite sophisticated projects come with a budget of 100-200-300 thousand rubles and in their complexity they can be much cooler than what we, for example, do in our aerospace on the subject of Diagnostics (the budget of this topic at the research institute per year - 400 million rubles)
    1. 0
      1 November 2012 10: 09
      exactly on AMUR with the ability to remotely detonate a special combat unit!
    2. +1
      1 November 2012 17: 15
      Quote: JustMe
      And what is our problem to do the same?

      The ambiguity of the application concept, as well as the technical requirements (they cannot deal with armored personnel carriers for 20 years), the lack of material facilities (see unmanned aerial vehicles), + it will not be possible to drive a girlfriend out on an unmanned boat for fishing or walking there .... . laughing Again, all the facilities are engaged in the production of "about five ships per year" sad
      Then again they will change their minds and purchase from Israeli manufacturers.
  2. 0
    1 November 2012 10: 31
    need mini submarines to do such, will be much more effective as sabotage
    1. 0
      1 November 2012 10: 38
      The Americans are already making such boats, and not only them.

      "Defender" would be useful for Russia in the Caspian - to catch poachers.
      1. -2
        1 November 2012 23: 10
        Professor,
        Quote: professor
        "Defender" would be useful for Russia in the Caspian - to catch poachers.

        And instead of an inspection group, evil computer trojans? )))
        You need to think a head, not a wow point.
        Although, it was done with the help of Israel, and besides it is unmanned, you’re cool))
        1. +1
          2 November 2012 10: 59
          And instead of an inspection group, evil computer trojans? )))

          Is this the maximum for which you had enough imagination? Not much. No.
          With the help of such drones, the intruder can also be forwarded to the inspection group. But I understand, it all seems to you that there are many soldiers and if something the women still give birth. However, do not give birth already.
  3. Tirpitz
    0
    1 November 2012 10: 41
    An excellent tool for border guards on the rivers.
  4. 0
    1 November 2012 11: 09
    I don’t understand what is the problem either? I have mnu son with a boat on the radio plays all summer at sea. The radius of the antenna is 7-8m. Surely military experts can’t do it six orders of magnitude cooler? I do not believe. And automatic work too ...
    Do UAVs do? Just do not say, I hope ....
  5. 0
    1 November 2012 13: 56
    PEM test video (Precision Engagement Module)
    [media = http: //bcove.me/a2c6ym6b]
  6. 0
    1 November 2012 14: 07
    [media = http: //bcove.me/a2c6ym6b]
  7. +1
    1 November 2012 16: 07
    FoMaS, Thanks for the video. Until the last minute I was sure that they missed.
    http://bcove.me/a2c6ym6b
    1. 0
      2 November 2012 11: 41
      Wow !, someone managed to see .. smile
      Honestly, I'm tired of struggling with inserting videos in this format.
      1. 0
        2 November 2012 11: 43
        Not just see, but even consider that Spike was pointed in manual mode.
  8. +2
    1 November 2012 17: 15
    To me, all this fuss with military robots reminds me of the fuss with robots and flexible production systems (FPS), when this trend became fashionable and reached the point that a plan for the introduction of robots and FPS was sent down to enterprises from above, without delving into whether a particular production needed it. As a result, it was often possible to observe a picture of how in the assembly shop workers on a cart brought parts to the robot, which lifted them and loaded them onto another cart, which was again dragged by hand. Nonsense, of course, but the management of the enterprise could report on the successful implementation of robotics and receive a hefty premium. A similar hobby is observed now. At the same time, many people forget that the data transmission channels used in remote control equipment are mostly wireless, and therefore can be easily suppressed by electronic warfare, after which all these drones become useless toys. And good, if only useless. After all, if it is possible to open the control codes (which is not such a difficult matter in modern "kibenimatics"), then these toys can start shooting at their owners. Why am I? And to what is needed more carefully with this robotics, because it is fraught. It's one thing to send some "Predator" to a remote Afghan province, and another thing when this "Predator" has a serious gun and traps
    1. 0
      2 November 2012 11: 02
      And to what is more thoroughly needed with this robotics, for it is fraught.

      Quite the opposite. 25% of all fallen died from friendly fire in the IDF. Other armies do not publish such data. It is easier for a robot to identify friends and foes, and in a panic it will not start firing at anything.
      1. 0
        3 November 2012 13: 19
        And how will this same robot produce this recognition / recognition? Is it possible for each soldier to be installed answering machines of the state recognition system? Nevertheless, it is necessary to combine unbridled optimism with severe racialism, dear Professor. Yes, and with knowledge of the capabilities of modern military technology
  9. Temnik1
    0
    1 November 2012 18: 41
    Back in the USSR there was a series of small radio-controlled minesweepers.
    I do not remember the series

    Back in the USSR there was a series of small radio-controlled minesweepers.
    I don’t remember the name of the series ...
  10. 0
    1 November 2012 18: 41
    About "robotization" is true !. I myself was a witness at the Chelyabinsk Radio Plant ...
  11. 0
    3 November 2012 23: 36
    The code of maritime laws is clearly stated. If a ship without a crew meets at sea, then it is the property of the country that found it. Damn, how many will have some fleet if they put equipment that can intercept the signal. laughing

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