(EMAILWIRE.COM, October 02, 2009 ) DETROIT ARSENAL, WARREN, MI ─ Quantico Marines were able to view some of the U.S. Army Tank Automotive Research, Development and Engineering Center’s (TARDEC’s) technologies during Modern Day Marine Sept. 29 through Oct. 1 at the Marine Corps Base in Virginia.

Part of the U.S. Army Research, Development and Engineering Command booth, TARDEC displayed several robots and its iPod Touch Teleoperation demonstrator robotics controller. As the Nation's Ground Systems Integrator for all Department of Defense manned and unmanned ground vehicle systems, TARDEC researchers developed an application to operate an unmanned robot using the unique touch and tilt-based abilities of an iPod Touch. The iPod connects directly to the robot using Wi-Fi.

Three main control modes are available on the demonstrator:
· Touch mode for buttons and analog-like control
· Tilt mode using the accelerometer
· Multi-touch mode using swipes
Additionally, voice or sounds can be sent or received using the device.
TARDEC robotics experts discussed the capabilities that iRobot’s PackBot 510 with FasTac kit and Foster-Miller’s TALON robots bring to the warfighters on the battlefield. Robots are designed to do the dull, dirty and dangerous work previously done by humans. New robotic technologies help keep our warfighters safe.

The annual exposition provided Marines, members of other U.S. and allied forces, and civilian defense officials with an up-close look at the future of Marine Corps equipment and systems. Representatives from more than 400 companies exhibited products that support all of the ground, air and sea operations of expeditionary forces.

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Note: Two photos are available for use with this release. Caption information follows. To download the photos, go to http://www.tardec.info/pressreleases/.


A Marine tests an iRobot’s PackBot 510 with FasTac kit at TARDECs booth during Modern Day Marine Sept. 29 through Oct. 1 at Quantico VA. The annual exposition provides Marines, members of other U.S. and allied forces, and civilian defense officials with an up-close look at the future of Marine Corps equipment and systems. (U.S. TARDEC Army photo by Kim Oviatt.)


TARDEC researchers developed an application to operate an unmanned robot using the unique touch and tilt-based abilities of an iPod Touch. The iPod connects directly to the robot using Wi-Fi. TARDEC demonstrated the technology at Modern Day Marine Sept. 29 through Oct. 1, an annual exposition offering an up-close look at the future of Marine Corps equipment and systems. (U.S. TARDEC Army photo by Kim Oviatt.)

ABOUT TARDEC
Headquartered at the Detroit Arsenal in Warren, MI, TARDEC is the Nation's laboratory for advanced military automotive technology and serves as the Ground Systems Integrator for all Department of Defense (DOD) manned and unmanned ground vehicle systems. With roots dating back to the World War II era, TARDEC is a full life-cycle systems engineering support provider-of-first-choice for all DOD ground combat and combat support weapons, equipment and vehicle systems. TARDEC develops and integrates the right technology solutions to improve Current Force effectiveness and provide superior capabilities for Future Force integration. TARDEC’s technical, scientific and engineering staff lead cutting-edge research and development in Ground Systems Survivability; Power and Mobility; Intelligent Ground Systems; Force Projection; and Vehicle Electronics and Architecture.

For more information about TARDEC, visit us at www.tardec.army.mil.
You can also follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/TARDEC_PAO.


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Contact Information:
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Bill Dowell
Tel: 586.907.8676
Email us


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