Robotic Research Receives SBIR Contract to Modify Hybrid Unmanned System

The Defense Threat Reduction Agency has awarded Robotic Research a Phase II Small Business Innovation Research contract to modify the design and increase the capacity of Pegasus Mini.

The company’s proprietary lightweight and backpackable hybrid unmanned system is capable of autonomous operations in air and ground modes, allowing it to navigate areas that may be inaccessible to standard ground robots or drones.

Proposed modifications include changes to its airframe, battery and computing and sensing capabilities. Phase II work will be completed in June 2023, after which Pegasus Mini’s design will undergo more changes based on user feedback, Robotic Research said Wednesday.

DTRA intends to add Pegasus Mini to its Modular Autonomous Counter-WMD, Increment B program.

George McWilliams, director of advanced programs at Robotic Research, believes that the solution will be a critical element in DTRA’s family of robotic systems and will serve as a powerful tool in the hands of other users.

Robotic Research’s Pegasus line of hybrid unmanned vehicles also consists of the mid-size Pegasus II and the larger heavy-lift Pegasus III.

Pegasus II is designed to carry a moderate-sized payload. It can perform intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions, and chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear defense measures. 

The bigger Pegasus III robotic system can host gimbaled payloads that need free range of motion. It is suitable for explosive ordnance disposal missions and is capable of saving all data for post processing, including video, 3D maps and location information.