Frag Out! Magazine
Issue link: https://fragout.uberflip.com/i/739629
The hull has two wide-angle, full-color HD cameras – a front one and a rear one, which are used for driving control. Both cameras have light illumination, as well as IR illuminators. Optionally, they may be facilitated with a heating system for the glass protecting lenses; they prevent lenses from freezing and fogging. Apart from cameras, the hull has a built-in microphone and a speaker, which allows using PIAP Fenix as a negotiation tool e.g. in hostage rescue situations. The sides of the hull contain slots for batteries that serve as a power supply for the whole vehicle. They make it possible to operate PIAP Fenix continuously for 6 hours. Replacement of batteries is quick and easy – the operator doesn't need any tools. Of course, battery slots, as well as all the other holes in the hull, have been sealed against bad weather conditions. The main manipulator weighs 5 kg and its maximum operational range (meas - ured from the edge of the hulls) is up to 100 cm. It features 1.5 kg lifting capac- ity and is able to grip objects of diameter up to 16 cm. Usually, the manipulator also features a grip camera. It is a device similar to those used in the basic configuration of the hull. The robot is wireless controlled and the waveband can be selected by end user. Steering is handled through the operator panel, which consists of rugged tablet in dedicated dock station. The station is operated with joysticks used to control the robot and the manipulator. There is also an option to attach a gamepad to the docking station. The operator's station is facilitated with a tilting antenna and the option to attach additional external antennas. The image from robot's cameras is dis - played on the screen, with the option to stream the image to an another display or helmet-mounted display. Additional equipment of PIAP Fenix may include e.g.: a set of CBRN sensors, observation payloads with thermal and night vision cameras, directional mi- crophones, additional illumination, or all sorts of detectors (e.g. explosives de- tectors). The user may order spare batteries, battery chargers and a transport backpack. Fenix AD2016, presented at MSPO, has been slightly changed in order to in- crease its functionality. The most important change is the application of a new manipulator with in- creased number of degrees of freedom. The new „robot's hand" has a total of seven settings: three are controlled from the operator station plus closing the claws of the grapple, and three are set manually. Due to the fact that the arm of the manipulator has been tailored to meet requirements of BALSA program, it has the ability to reach below the level it is standing on, which is to make it possible to penetrate hard-to-access places, such as e.g. road culverts or recess under stairs. Additional modules may be mounted on the manipulator, such as day and night camera or thermal camera (interchangeably). Moreover, the manipulator has been equipped with a color grip camera. The swivel of ma - nipulator's forearm has a wheel the robot may use to support itself in case of risk of losing stability e.g. when overcoming obstacles or lifting heavy objects. In the case in which the robot, equipped with this new manipulator, overturns, it is possible to move it back to the original position by using the manipulator and front supports (controlled from the operator console). It is a very important feature that helps to resume robot's operation without human interference. What is more, the front camera has become a vertically movable camera, con - trolled from the operator station, which will significantly increase the observa- tion capabilities of the robot. www.fragoutmag.com