Johns Hopkins APL Partners with Military to Automate UXO Clearance Robots

Laurel, Maryland The Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) is teaming up with the U.S. Army and Navy to develop new autonomous capabilities for the Man Transportable Robotic System Increment II (MTRS Inc II), a robotic platform widely used by military EOD technicians for explosive hazard mitigation.

The joint effort aims to upgrade the MTRS Inc II with advanced sensor and compute systems, enabling it to autonomously navigate, detect, and clear UXO over large operational areas like airfields. According to Christopher Korpela, a senior roboticist at APL, the upgraded system will be able to perceive its environment, avoid obstacles, identify explosive threats, and accurately place a charge or perform render-safe procedures from a safe distance before continuing its mission.

The ultimate goal of the partnership is to rapidly provide EOD operators with advanced autonomous tools that maximize standoff distances and significantly reduce the physical risks associated with large-scale UXO clearance.

For further information about this innovative project, check out Johns Hopkins APL's Website.