The Talon robot has been used for several years by U.S. Army Combat Engineers handling mines and clearing dangerous ammunition. But now the robot has been fitted with various weapons. In tests, the 85 pound robot has used the M202 four round rocket launcher and tests are underway using a six round 40mm grenade launcher, as well as .50 caliber,7.62mm and 5.56mm machine-guns. The original Talon 1 weighed 85 pounds, was 34 inches long 22.5 inches wide and 11 inches high. It had a 63 inch long, jointed arm with a claw on the end. The Talon 1 could carry 200 pounds, usually additional sensors (including a sonar, as Talon can operate underwater). Talon can operate via an onboard GPS and software that provides some autonomous behavior. It's batteries allow it to operate for 1-4 hours (depending on workload.) The robot has four vidcams, including night vision, and a comm. link capable of two way operation. Max speed is about six feet a second (6.5 kilometers an hour, or a fast walk). The operator, using a CRT or VR (virtual reality) goggles, could be as far as 1800 meters from the robot. The wardroid version, or Talon 2, uses lighter lithium ion batteries and weighs 75 pounds. Same dimensions, but the new batteries give the Talon 2 10-12 hours of operation. The original arm has been replaced with a TRAP (telepresent rapid aiming platform) and a fire control system. TRAP allows different weapons to be quickly mounted. TRAP allows the weapon to maintain it's aim at a target even while Talon is moving. The same 33 pound (in a small suitcase) control system is used, in addition to a lighter wearable control unit. Talon 2 is not armored. The Talon 2 will also be tested carrying a Javelin anti-tank missile, a .50 caliber sniper rifle and various mine detectors and electronic devices. While Talon has proven very useful in dealing with EOD (unexploded ordnance disposal) work and mine clearing, on the battlefield, it could prove useful for standing guard in exposed and dangerous positions and generally filling in for jobs that are very high risk. Talon 2 will probably be given to combat units to use in training and field exercises, to see what the troops come up with. The Talon 1 cost $30,000 each, and the Talon 2, without weapons, will probably go for a bit more because of the fire control system. Eighteen Talon 1s were used in Iraq. Pictures are here.
