US Army tests robotic cleaners to counter chemical, biological threats

Chemical and biological weapons pose a serious threat to soldiers. And decontaminating exposed military vehicles is a time-consuming and dangerous task, often requiring large teams of soldiers in full protective gear.

For this, the U.S. Army is testing a robotic system designed to safely clean military vehicles exposed to hazardous substances.

The U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Chemical Biological Center has developed this robotic system known as the Autonomous Equipment Decontamination System.

Four soldiers operated the system for four days before providing feedback to the development team.

“This system takes us away from the threat completely, and its buttons and controls are easy to use. We are the ones who will be using it in the fight, so it feels good to be able to tell the technology developers exactly what we need now,” said Spc. Yaleidi Escalera in the press statement.

Scans the decontaminated vehicle

Equipped with a camera-mounted unmanned ground vehicle, the system scans the entire vehicle surface to identify contaminated areas.

The system robot wirelessly relays contamination information to system operators stationed at a safe distance. A robotic manipulator arm then precisely sprays a decontamination slurry to those chemical hotspots.

At present, decontaminating a single vehicle requires a team of 20 to 30 soldiers for up to an hour. This process consumes over 500 gallons of water and 50 gallons of decontamination chemicals per vehicle.

Moreover, troops conduct decontamination operations close to hazardous areas, putting them at risk of enemy attack.

Not just this, nuclear, chemical, and biological (NBC) agents are extremely dangerous and capable of causing fatal harm with even trace amounts. Soldiers usually wear full-body protective ensembles for the manual decontamination process.

Improving the design

The development team gathered crucial feedback to enhance the robot’s navigation and user interface.

“We usually never get a chance to meet the people designing the instruments we’re using as Soldiers. So getting to experience the brain behind the equipment was exciting,” said Sgt. First Class Joseph Bennett, also of First Armored, in the press release.

Soldiers suggested refining the robotic platform’s ability to maneuver around and interact with different vehicle shapes. They also recommended adding user-friendly features such as right-click options to the computer interface.

Moreover, the soldiers proposed a manual control option for the applicator arm to address areas the autonomous system might miss.

“I know from my experience as a CBRN officer during my time in the Special Operations Command the value of fast, efficient decontamination in the field,” said Paul Austin, a CBRN experimental officer with the Maneuver Support Battle Lab who coordinates and runs MSPIX.

Austin added: “Chemical and biological agents are a weapon that can severely disrupt an operation, so being able to quickly address it is essential to completing the mission.”

Reportedly, the devastating consequences of nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons have prevented their widespread use since World War I. However, the ongoing threat of these weapons, especially in the hands of rogue states or in major conflicts, necessitates constant preparedness.