Pune: The city-based DRDO lab, Research & Development Establishment (Engineers) (R&DE (Engrs)), has made UXO handling Robot (UXOR), which is capable of handling, diffuse and detect Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) i.e. bombs and missiles up to 1,000 kg remotely from one km line of sight. UXO is considered the most dangerous category of military munitions. The UXOR has been made for the Indian Air Force. 

Also, R&DE is in contact with some private firms to jointly develop systems (robots/unmanned vehicles) to be used in Kashmir for riot/crowd control to save soldiers from stone pelters. Some non-lethal weapons are also being developed to deal with the stone pelters.

R&DE (Engrs) scientist Kathika Roy made a presentation about various products developed by the lab as well as those being planned, during a seminar and exhibition on ‘Military Robotics and Autonomous Systems’ at Military Institute of Technology (MILIT), Girinagar near Khadakwasla, on Sunday. 

Roy said that the UXOR has been developed for the first time in the country. 

“UXOR is based on an IC Engine operated, tracked Skid Steer Loader platform, good cross country mobility with six hours of endurance. Range of remote operation is 1,000 m. UXOR is capable of diffusing Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) i.e. Bombs and Missiles with low order detonation. UXOR has Multiple Degrees of Freedom (DOF) manipulator arm with a cutting mechanism to defuse the unexploded ordnance,” Roy said.

When explosive ordnance is armed or otherwise prepared for action, launched, placed, fired, released or accidentally dispersed in such a way that it fails to explode as intended, either through malfunction or design, it is termed as UXO.
 
A major problem with unexploded ordnance is that over the years, the detonator and main charge deteriorate, frequently, making them more sensitive to disturbance, and, therefore, more dangerous to handle. 

Robots to deal with stone pelters in Kashmir

• The officials of R&DE(E) said that they are in the process of designing a robot/unmanned vehicle to manage crowds and stone pelters in Jammu and Kashmir. As part of the plan, some non-lethal weapon system is also being developed. 

“Several lives have been lost, while many have sustained injuries. Hence, we are in talks with some companies for the development of non-lethal weapons. The robot is in the design stage. It will have a weapon system and a camera as well. The vehicle can accommodate few soldiers so that they are not injured by stones”, a DRDO official said.