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Current methods for house-to-house searching and fighting present severe challenges and risks. Operators face extreme danger entering confined spaces, navigating "fatal funnels," and engaging in close-quarters battle with limited prior knowledge of threats. Gaining situational awareness usually requires
direct visual exposure, placing personnel at immediate risk. Reliable radio communication can be degraded or blocked by building materials, even before jamming. Slow, methodical clearing procedures can increase exposure time.
This system enables rapid building search/intrusion with resilience in electronically contested environments.
A quadruped robot is the primary deployment unit and C2/power hub, selected for indoor mobility. The quadruped carries and deploys a mix of micro-drones: Small quadcopters provide rapid visual reconnaissance using Simultaneous Localization and Mapping for navigation. They relay data via short-range links (RF-burst, Visual Light Communication) when near a ground node or hub. Limited battery life is accepted. Wheeled/tracked ground micro-robots form the core communication network. Given vulnerabilities of RF (jamming) and wireless alternatives (VLC/Acoustic countermeasures), ground units form a physical tether backbone. Each ground unit deploys a copper wire tether as it moves from the hub or another ground unit. The tether provides power and data, extending operational time and ensuring a robust, high-bandwidth, jam-proof comms link. Ground units act as relays, extending the wired network from the hub.
Operational Concept:
Quadruped enters structure.
Deploys ground units that spool tethers, establishing powered comms nodes.
Aerial units deploy for quick scans, relaying data via short-range links to the nearest node/hub.
Ground units advance via tether control, extending the backbone and deploying effects (smoke, explosives, sensors) as directed.
This system accepts wireless fragility, leveraging a robust physical layer. Tether management is complex, but focusing it on tethered ground units simplifies endurance. The design prioritizes guaranteed C2/data over wireless freedom, accepting the trade-off for assurance in jammed environments.
Nano Drone
https://en.wikipedi...R_Black_Hornet_Nano
Just the right size. [minoradjustments, Apr 06 2025]
[link]
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I dig the ground unit "dog" that's the mothership, but why not deploy mini aerial drones on fiber-op for data and control? The Marines use Black Hornet nano drones, and a ground unit could carry a couple of dozen nested on its back (There are more current designs.) They would have to be battery powered with limited duration, but could be recharged on the "dog" if it returned safely. A fiber-op connection allows for so much more bandwidth that other sensor data could be included in addition to standard IR and Video cameras: explosive sniffers, microphones, radiological or chemical sensors, speakers. |
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Since the scouting units must be sacrificed if trapped or discovered, they should carry small explosive charges. Both the dog and the nano drone should have the capability to sever the fiber-op link on command. |
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A fiber reel is too heavy and too fragile for a micro-drone that can fit on the standard military robodogs in large enough numbers. |
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For long distance droning, I agree. But for CQB clearing operations like houses and bunkers the distances are so short that the fiber-op spools can be paired with the Black Hornets on the back of the dog. You wouldn't need much length, and if you wanted to retrieve one from a cleared house you should be able to replace the filament with a new line from a fresh spare reel. |
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How would you handle stairs, ladders, hatches, trenches, or grease, fuel, or blood on the floor with a wheeled or tracked scout unit? |
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Plus, you can exit a window and re-enter elsewhere if you fly. |
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//you can exit a window and re-enter elsewhere if you fly.// |
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Not if you're on a tether. And keeping the reel on the dog isn't going to work. They'll get tangled and caught on stuff super fast. Not that I necessarily disagree with the idea of tethering the air drones given the fact that they don't have to go far. If you tether with copper you can leave off most of the battery, giving you the weight you need for the tether. That also allows secure and unjammable communication. |
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Downsides are no worse than the ground/air mix. |
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