After several months of cooperation, Rheinmetall Canada and the Spanish company Escribano Mechanical & Engineering (EM&E) have presented two new modules for the Rheinmetall Mission Master SP unmanned robotic vehicle.
Both versions carry sensors and weapon systems from EM&E. Several product demonstrations were held at EM&E’s new premises in San Juan del Viso in front of Spanish representatives, including the Chief of the Army General Staff, and international delegations. Another demonstration was also carried out in Viator, Almeria, for His Majesty King Felipe VI. Two autonomous unmanned ground vehicles (A-UGVs) of the Mission Master SP type were involved in the demonstrations. A Mission Master SP in the Fire Support version was equipped with the Escribano Guardian 2.0 remote-controlled weapon station for this purpose. Another Mission Master SP – Surveillance carried the Escribano OTEOS sensor package. With its mast-mounted OTEOS sensor, the Mission Master SP – Surveillance successfully detected a threat and automatically communicated its location to the Mission Master SP – Fire Support, which then directed its weapon station towards the threat. Various Mission Master control modes were also demonstrated, including follow-me, autonomous navigation and convoy mode.
Furthermore, live firing was carried out with the Mission Master SP – Fire Support, in which a Dillon Aero M134D Gatling machine gun was mounted in the Escribano Guardian 2.0 weapon station. The shooting was conducted using the portable UGV/weapon station controller with integrated safety board architecture. The modern wireless control console allows for safe shooting. As with all Mission Master operations, engagement of targets is never autonomous. Rather, in accordance with the “human in the loop” principle, a human always makes the decision to act. For Rheinmetall Canada, the manufacturer of the Mission Master family, this series of demonstrations in Spain marks the first integration of an EM&E payload on the Mission Master SP robotic vehicle and the first collaboration with a Spanish company. The successful demonstrations underline the system integration expertise and growing capabilities of the Mission Master family.
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