Military and commercial organizations face challenges that are hazardous, costly, or just impractical for humans to perform safely. Thanks to modern robotics and autonomous systems, these dangerous tasks can be handled with ease from a safe distance. Robots provide a significant advantage to the mission’s success while increasing safety and reducing the burden for troops and first responders.

While robots have helped missions succeed for years, a new generation of backpackable robotics technology makes the deployment of these devices even easier. QinetiQ’s SPUR best represents this new generation.

QinetiQ’s SPUR

The Squad Packable Utility Robot, or SPUR, is QinetiQ Inc.’s newest tactical land robot that provides optimized performance for dismounted operations. Designed to be backpackable, meaning it easily fits into a single MOLLE II Assault Pack, the SPUR weighs less than 28 pounds and can nimbly climb stairs and surmount obstacles while being able to operate effectively in culverts and sewer pipes that wider robots can’t enter.

Equipped with a pan-tilt-zoom camera and high-performance manipulator arm, the SPUR can be rapidly deployed from its stowed state inside the assault pack in under one minute without using any tools; this quick reaction can be the difference between a successful or failed mission.

The SPUR is operated by QinetiQ’s UC-LITE (Universal Controller – Lightweight Interoperable Tactical Equipment) controller. The UC-LITE commands the SPUR and all battalion-level unmanned systems in their arsenal. Available in both single or dual-screen options, UC-LITE flaunts a compact and lightweight ergonomic design crucial for easy transport with the backpackable unit.

The controller’s IOP V2 interfaces allow the operator to simply adapt and reconfigure the controller for multiple operation modes in various field application environments. SPUR operators are kept safe by the UC-LITE’s real-time provided information and situational awareness features.

SPUR Key Features

• Lightweight
• Rapid deployment without tools
• Compact foldable design
• UC-LITE universal controller
• Advanced ISR capability
• Exceptional radio range
• Superior day and night vision

The SPUR Mini

The SPUR Mini, QinetiQ’s smallest and lightest unmanned ground robot, weighs less than five total pounds. Like the original SPUR, the SPUR Mini is used for high-risk reconnaissance and security operations to keep military, first responders, and law enforcement personnel away from dangerous situations.

Because of its compact and lightweight design, the SPUR Mini can deploy almost instantly by throwing it up to 18 feet away. The SPUR Mini’s superior battery life allows for two hours of continuous driving or four hours of intermittent use, which is controlled by a small tablet or smartphone. Its HD and Thermal cameras offer clear vision night or day.

SPUR Mini Key Features

• Compact, lightweight, and extremely portable
• Intuitive operation
• Easy to throw
• Excellent mobility
• Quickly deployed and fast boot up
• Two-way communications
• High-definition video