Ukraine presents “Rage”: a new armored robot with a machine gun, ready for combat (video)
Thanks to a sophisticated design adapted for combat operations, the robot is free from the disadvantages of universal platforms. It is resistant to electronic warfare and can see targets at a distance of up to 1200 meters.
A member of Brave1, the combat robot “Rage” is currently being prepared for codification according to the standards of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, as well as for industrial production. Developers from the DONS startup spoke about their work in a story for Militarny.
The remote-controlled Rage robot was designed specifically as a combat platform, which allowed it to avoid the disadvantages of universal robots. The robot’s combat module was developed in parallel and specifically for her. Due to the specialization of the development, we managed to reduce the height and protect all important structural elements as much as possible. The 7.62 mm machine gun is located in the center of the robot’s mass, which makes it possible to reduce the cost of the turret control drive.
The Liut ground drone has increased cross-country ability due to the front suspension and front swivel wheels. The wheels are not afraid of debris or bullets: there is no air inside them, the rubber is stretched over a steel rim. Class 4 armor protects the robot from small arms, except for armor-piercing weapons.
Only one person can control the drone. It is controlled by a remote control, very similar to those that control copters. A person who knows how to fly an FPV drone can learn all the nuances in 3 hours. One person controls both the robot and the combat module. There are two joysticks on the remote control for this purpose. The range of communication with the robot reaches 2 km in the line of sight.
Photo: DONS
The drone has no weapon stabilization, so it has to stop to fire. The ammunition capacity of the “Rage” is 550 rounds. The camera can aim at a distance of up to 800 meters.
The robot supports radio communication on analog radio modules and is resistant to EW at a distance of up to 700 meters. Stationary repeaters or drones can increase the communication range. “Lyut has an optoelectronic module consisting of two cameras with different viewing angles and an optional thermal imager.
The military’s task for the development of the robot was to perform defense tasks and, if necessary, to be able to work in positions as a stationary or mobile robot. The drone must also effectively divert the enemy’s attention to itself and thus identify firing points.
The developers’ website lists the following characteristics of Rage:
- The range of detection of typical targets is up to 1200 meters;
- The weapon is a 7.62 mm PKT machine gun;
- Vertical pointing angle: -12° … +45°;
- Horizontal aiming angle: – 145°…+145°;
- The battery life is up to 72 hours;
- The range is up to 20 km;
- The driving time is up to 3 hours;
- The ground clearance is 250 mm;
- Gross vehicle weight is 330 kg.
The developer talks about the Rage robot
The development is currently in the process of transition from pilot to commercial production. At the end of December, the developers created a prototype and are now conducting internal tests on more than 30 parameters. At the same time, the product is being prepared for codification and minor defects are being corrected. We are developing design documentation to order the robot’s production from other, larger companies. The developers are planning to produce 10 cars per month on their own. The robot turned out to be very cheap for military equipment; it costs about $10,000.
Participation in Brave1 gave us the opportunity to use testing grounds, engage codification specialists, and receive several grants. In addition to the Liut robot, the developers have a project for a more technologically advanced drone: one with machine vision, weapon stabilization, and better cross-country ability.
Combat robots under the leadership of the Ukrainian military are already gaining resounding success. Recently, an unnamed combat robot with a turret, remotely controlled by an aerial drone, destroyed a Russian position for the first time in history.
