Comparative Robotics Research
ELROB: European Land-ROBot Trial
Introduction
The European Land-Robot Trial (ELROB) is the first European robot trial providing an opportunity to demonstrate today's state-of-the-art robotics. Two scenarios, focusing on both mobility and RSTA (Reconnaissance, Surveillance, and Target acquisition), allow participating teams to demonstrate their technical realizations of Unmanned Ground Vehicles (UGV). Both commercial and academic applicants from European countries are allowed to participate in the trial. The first instance of this annual event was organized by the German Federal Armed Forces (Bundeswehr).
Due to the reorientation of the Bundeswehr with an extended spectrum of tasks in conflict prevention and crisis management including the fight against international terrorism, the armed forces are heading for new demands. This holds also for most of the other European forces.
Robotics is one option for the intelligent substitution of personnel on highly dangerous and tedious operations. Such unmanned systems allow considerable improvement in the protection of soldiers. This applies to reconnaissance and combat operations as well as to handling or manipulating hazardous materials (e.g. NBC, mine detection). The employment of robot systems on the ground is imperative for protracted activities and/or for activities under threat.
Unmanned systems enable the soldier to enhance his protection considerably by substantially increasing the distance between him and the scene of operation. Furthermore, the employment of this technology allows accommodating the limited funds in the military sector and the increased need for opportunities of personnel cutbacks.
Against the background of this fundamental new situation and the permanent requirement for more economy of manpower and funds, the Bundeswehr and other European forces are consolidating and realigning their R&T activities in the area of robotics.
Basic Rules
Since ELROB is considered as a capability demonstration, there were only a few technical limitations implied on the participating teams, allowing a wide variety of possible solutions. There is, however, a predefined set of rules providing comparability among the participants, which is enforced by a team of seven judges:
- The vehicle must travel using traction with the ground.
- The vehicle's maximum weight is limited to 3 tons.
- Participating vehicles must be unmanned.
- Only open to teams under European leadership
Following the concerns of the industry participants, no contest was conducted, and no official evaluation or ranking will be published. Thereby the overall goal of ELROB was to present a comprehensive overview about current developments and possibilities for the use of robotic capabilities in the context of military or civilian operations.
Basic Scenarios
The two scenarios are selected and constructed in order to provide a realistic training ground for real-world tasks, emphasizing military applications like exploration and surveillance. While the team controlling the robot is not allowed to enter the test site, all scenarios require remote or autonomous operation of the robot.
- Urban scenario
The terrain includes urban obstacles like cars, stairs, narrow passes, and collapsed ceilings. The task is to search for and identify objects located around and inside buildings. The maximum distance for the urban scenario is approximately 500 metres. - Non-Urban Scenario
The terrain contains both paved and unpaved roads as well as ditches, fences and fire. Both natural objects like trees and stones, as well as artificially placed objects may block the path and have to be circumnavigated. The task is to follow a predefined route and to locate targets at certain points of interest. The maximum distance for the non-urban scenario is approximately 2000 meters.
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Image of the test area (urban scenario) |
Image of the test area (non-urban scenario) |
The maximum operational area is not larger than 10x30 meters. The area may include paved regions, unpaved regions, trails, and off-road desert areas. In addition to the existing natural obstacles, the organizers might place obstacles (e.g. military equipment) in the operational area that may disable a vehicle if struck. These obstacles must be detected and circumnavigated by a vehicle to successfully complete the route.
More information can be found at the official sites:
History
1st European Land-Robot Trial 2006 (Military-ELROB)
The 1st ELROB was held from 15th to 18th of May 2006 in Hammelburg, (Germany) and participated 20 teams from 5 European countries, who gave an impressive performance for the spectators coming from 19 countries all over the world. Following the concerns of the industry participants, no contest was conducted, and no official evaluation or ranking will be published.
The scenarios were:
- Non-urban: mobility in non-urban terrain.
- Urban: tactical awareness in urban environment.
- EOD/IED: Detection and removal of EOD/IED in urban terrain
- EOD/UXO: UXO detection in non-urban terrain
The following issues with room for improvement have been identified:
- Ergonomics of the human-machine interface
- Communication in urban and non-urban domain under difficult conditions
- Mobility in non-urban terrain
- Agility in narrow urban structures
- Navigation and manoeuvring under difficult conditions
- Demonstration of stair-climbing capability
- Use of elevatable manipulators
- Movement and interaction inside buildings
- Recognition and circumnavigation of obstacles
- Moving on pathless terrain
- Manoeuvring at high inclination angles
- Communication and navigation without sight
2nd European Land-Robot Trial 2007 (Civilian-ELROB)
The 2nd ELROB was held from 13th to 16th of August 2007 in Monte Ceneri (Ticino, Switzerland) and participated 13 teams from 5 countries.
The scenarios were:
- Non-urban: an NBC incident, search area for hazardous materials.
- Urban: an incident with IEDs on a crowded marketplace, improve situation awareness.
- Combined operation of UGV and UAV: fire and NBC incidents, search area for suspicious places.
- Autonomous reconnaissance on urban and/or non-urban route: security patrol, do reconnaissance.
3rd European Land-Robot Trial 2008 (Military-ELROB)
The 3rd ELROB will be held from 30th of June to 3rd of July 2008 in Hammelburg (Germany). The scenarios will be similar to the Elrob 2006.