Scott Nicholas
The Department of Homeland Security has awarded a $422,330 contract to JGW International to produce a universal operator control unit for four explosive ordnance disposal robotic platforms.
DHS’ science and technology directorate will collaborate with JGW International and its partner Reamda to create a system that will work to help bomb technicians operate multiple robotic platforms using a single standardized control unit console, the department said Friday.
The effort will fall under DHS S&T’s First Responders Group’s Response and Defeat Operations Support program with the FBI that seeks to develop countermeasure technologies for public safety bomb squads to dispose improvised explosive devices safely.
Byung Hee Frantz, REDOPS program manager at DHS, said implementing one system to operate several unmanned ground vehicles can help reduce training hours and allow bomb technicians to focus more on field work.
DHS added it aims to increase interoperability and reduce training requirements as well as maintenance and transportation operating costs of multiple devices with universal OCU technology.
