With the “European Conference on Security Research SRC ’07”, held on 26 and 27 March in Berlin, the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research is launching the “European Security Research Program”.
Under this, the European Union will make available around 1.4 billion euros from 2007 to 2013 to promote research and innovation for strengthening internal security.
“The feeling of security in Germany, and in Europe generally, is being increasingly undermined by terrorist attacks, like those in London or Madrid”, commented Robowatch General Manager, Dr Jens Hanke. “From our viewpoint, robotics is a key technology to effectively meet today’s challenges of security policy. In this respect, it is necessary that politics, industry and research pull together. So increased backing for security research by the European Union can only be welcomed."
The robotics firm has already sought to work in the homeland security market. For years, this Berlin-based firm has been developing autonomous unmanned ground vehicles (AUGVs) that relieve the workload of persons in hazardous situations, issue warnings in good time, and provide protection.
A reconnaissance robot OFRO+detect can detect nuclear and chemical hazards in fractions of a second. With the ASENDRO EOD, bomb defusing operations are possible even in very complex or constricted situations, like in aircraft or buses, it is claimed. Controlled from a safe distance, this defusing robot moves and investigates objects with its gripper arm. Such service robots for reconnaissance, mission support and averting dangers are likewise a relevant research topic for this promotion programme, according to the company.
About Robowatch Technologies GmbH
Providers of Autonomous Unmanned Ground Vehicles – AUGVs – that warn persons when they get into dangerous situations. Robowatch is structured into three business divisions: Robowatch Defence develops and markets AUGVs for the defence market and Homeland Security tasks. With OFRO+detect, ASENDRO and AUG-V8, robotic systems are available for reconnaissance; detection of chemical, biological, radioactive and nuclear (CBRN) hazards; as well as defusing and transportation of explosive devices. Robowatch Security Systems develops and markets AUGVs for the security sector and industrial applications.
