As part of this work DCE worked with US partner Ghost Robotics and their UK agent Edgar Brothers to integrate a ‘follow-me’ capability in to Ghost’s proven V-60 robotic dogs. The technology allows the dog to autonomously follow a specific target or individual.
Based upon DCE’s own MarionetteTM control system and a proprietary ‘follow me’ capability, DCE was able to create an ‘electronic dog Leash’ between the dog and operator. This enabled the robotic dogs to follow one another and other targets, such as 4×4’s, all-terrain vehicles and Armoured Fighting Vehicles (AFVs).
In contrast to other systems which use computer vision to follow a human operator at a fixed distance, the approach and architecture delivered by DCE is flexible and allows rapid adaptation to emerging or changing requirements. DCE’s solution offers the ability to adjust the distance at which the dog follows its Leader, as well as other options such as following at an offset (for example 20 metres behind and 10 metres to the side) or having the dog act as a ‘point man’ (at the head of the patrol).
