Persistent Systems, a provider of mobile ad hoc networking (MANET) technology, says that mobile robotics company Boston Dynamics has joined its Relay Ecosystem.
The Ecosystem is an industry alliance of unmanned systems and sensor producers all using the Wave Relay MANET as their preferred network for command-and-control and communications.
As part of its agreement with Boston Dynamics, Persistent will supply the MANET devices used on robots sold to defense, public safety, law enforcement and US federal government customers.
Jeremy Hickman, director of business development for Persistent Systems, says: “We are excited to have Boston Dynamics join our Ecosystem.
“We believe that our MANET technology will provide their robots with a high-performance solution that is robust, reliable and scalable – and also enables interoperability with third-party unmanned and sensor platforms.”
Boston Dynamics officials noted that they see the new Ecosystem agreement with Persistent Systems as a way of better positioning the company’s robotic quadruped Spot for industries requiring dedicated, secure communications networks in remote environments.
Kimberly Chamblin, director of partnerships, public sector, at Boston Dynamics, says: “We see Spot, operating on a Persistent Systems MANET, being used in many different applications, including underground or confined space exploration, unexploded ordnance inspection, suspicious package investigation, hazardous gas detection, search and rescue, and structural inspection.”
In addition to MANET hardware being physically integrated with Boston Dynamics robots, robotic command-and-control software will be loaded onto Persistent Systems devices so that users can control them via the Persistent Systems Remote Display and Controller (RDC).
Hickman says: “So, not only will you be able to stream sensor data collected by Spot, but you will also be able to control its movement with the RDC.
“This configuration both empowers the users and reduces the need for each unmanned system to have its own unique controller.”
