The new drone will reduce the risk to the soldiers of the engineering units, significantly increase the pace of the offensive and the mobility of light equipment.
Russia has developed a ground-based robotic system for overcoming trenches, ditches and other similar obstacles. The remotely controlled vehicle carries a structure that it throws over an obstacle, ensuring the movement of light vehicles. This makes it possible to reduce the vulnerability of engineering units, increase the pace of the offensive, and ensure evacuation if necessary, experts say.
Russia has developed a ground-based robotic system for overcoming trenches, ditches and other similar obstacles. The remotely controlled vehicle carries a structure that it throws over an obstacle, ensuring the movement of light vehicles. This makes it possible to reduce the vulnerability of engineering units, increase the pace of the offensive, and ensure evacuation if necessary, experts say.
What are bridge laying drones?
Russia has developed a ground-based drone to overcome ditches, trenches and other obstacles, sources in the military department told Izvestia. It moves towards the barrier, carrying a special metal structure. The device throws it to the other end of the obstacle, after which other robots or fighters on motorcycles can drive along it.
Bridge-laying drones allow you to overcome anti-tank ditches, destroyed road sections, trenches, trenches, ditches. This should significantly increase the pace of offensive operations and reduce the vulnerability of engineering units. Robots can be used to remove equipment from under fire, change the direction of attack, or organize evacuation.
— Armored bridge-laying machines have been created since Soviet times on the basis of tanks and fought in formations of armored troops. But in modern conditions, manned vehicles belong to the risk group, and the task of overcoming obstacles still remains," Dmitry Kornev, editor of the MilitaryRussia portal, told Izvestia. — And if unmanned vehicles have appeared, especially of different classes with different weights, with the possibility of building bridges of different lengths, then this will be in great demand at the forefront. To overcome obstacles on motorcycles or buggies, it is not necessary to make a bridge capable of supporting 50 tons. You can make it easier. So far, there have been no such funds. Their use is much more effective and safer in conditions of active hostilities, especially when drones dominate the air.
Modern designs can be equipped with modular bridge sections made of composite materials and power drives that allow the structure to be deployed in a matter of minutes, the expert added.
"By linking such devices into a single control system, it is possible to synchronize engineering support with the actions of units on the ground — to prepare routes in advance and create temporary crossings," Dmitry Kornev noted. — Autonomous engineering complexes will perform the functions of sappers, minimizing human involvement and ensuring uninterrupted mobility of troops.
If there is engineering equipment based on tanks, then the appearance of small analogues looks logical, military expert Yuri Lyamin told Izvestia.
— During the fighting, it may be necessary to overcome a small river or mud, in which equipment can get stuck. Such devices can help.
Motorcycles and similar light equipment are actively used now, but it happens when it needs to pass where it cannot itself, and then a temporary bridge will be needed. Naturally, this will help to ensure logistics. Given the number of drones currently flying in the sky, any delay results in losses. Robotic platforms are very suitable for solving engineering problems.
New types of ground-based drones
Earlier, Izvestia reported that artillery formations have mastered the new use of ground-based drones. When the guns take up firing positions, robotic complexes on a tracked chassis with electronic warfare equipment on board are on duty next to them. They block the frequency bands used by the operators of enemy FPV drones. Due to this, the signal from these drones is not transmitted to the operators, and thus the safety of the gunners is ensured. The unit is on duty all the time while the unit is performing a combat mission. The complex is controlled remotely.
In addition, ground-based robots began to be used to load ammunition into self-propelled artillery installations. They are made on a tracked chassis, which allows them to operate in any weather. They are controlled like FPV drones via a radio channel. Operators, thanks to the video image coming from the camera, see the maneuvers of the device in real time. This allows you to remotely control its operation using a remote control. The use of FPV robots significantly speeds up the process of completing a combat mission.
In recent years, Russia has been actively developing ground-based robotic systems. On April 23, President Vladimir Putin gave instructions to accelerate the production of unmanned boats, robotic complexes and combat lasers. Russia already has developments in this area, in particular, entire complexes are ready, the head of state noted.
Izvestia also talked about various developments in the field of robotic systems. The electric mine clearance unit "Chelnok" is mounted on the basis of an unmanned all-terrain platform powered by electric power. The vehicle uses low-pressure tires and at some points allows it to drive through a minefield where mines with contact fuses are installed. The shuttle can reach speeds of up to 50 km/ h and up to 5 km/ h on water, has a range of 30 km, and a mass of 1.3 tons. The mine clearance unit mounted on the platform can throw almost 1.4 tons of explosives at a distance of up to 440 m, thereby making passages in minefields.
The robotic complex for mining "Cactus" can carry a platform for laying mines or a transport platform for delivery and evacuation. With a weight of 80 kg, it can carry up to 200 kg of cargo. Due to the unique suspension, the complex is able to overcome obstacles above the track itself.
Izvestia also observed the testing of a special robotic platform for mine clearance, which is based on a commercial loader. Her task is to prepare the area before the sappers start working. These lightweight robots use a rotary mechanism to grind the soil to a depth of about 10 cm, while destroying vegetation. The developers expect that the new robotic technology will increase the efficiency of the mine clearance process by 10-20 times, and most importantly, it will maximize the safety of sappers.
Timofey Volkov
Andrey Fedorov
