Griffon: a man-portable hybrid UGV/UAV

Authors: Brian Yamauchi; Pavlo Rudakevych

Source: Industrial Robot: An International Journal, Volume 31, Number 5, 2004 , pp. 443-450(8)

Publisher: Emerald Group Publishing Limited

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Abstract:

To demonstrate proof-of-concept of the Griffon man-portable hybrid unmanned ground vehicle/unmanned aerial vehicle (UGV/UAV) based on the iRobot PackBot we developed the Griffon air mobility system consisting of a gasoline-powered propeller engine, a steerable parafoil, and a radio-controlled servo system. We integrated the AMS with a PackBot prototype, and we conducted ground and flight tests to validate this concept. The Griffon prototype was capable of remote-controlled flight, take-off, and landing. The Griffon achieved speeds of over 20 mph and altitudes of up to 200 feet. We demonstrated the feasibility of developing a man-portable hybrid UGV/UAV. Future work may explore the possibilities for teleoperated, semi-autonomous, and fully autonomous control using the Griffon concept. The parafoil wing limits the usability of this vehicle in windy conditions, but this could be addressed using a lightweight fixed wing instead. Man-portable hybrid UGV/UAVs may be used by the military to perform reconnaissance and strike missions in urban environments, and by civilian teams to conduct search-and-rescue operations in hazardous terrain. This research provides the first demonstration of a man-portable unmanned vehicle capable of both flight and ground locomotion, and it does so using a combat-tested UGV platform.

Keywords: Robotics; Flight Operations; Motion

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/01439910410551863

Publication date: 2004-05-01