Unmanned Ground System (UGS) or tactical robot.

Access and use of Unmanned Ground Systems (UGS) – or “tactical robots” – by law enforcement agencies provide police with an invaluable public safety multiplier.  These systems allow officers to quickly investigate and assess a situation without placing officers in harm’s way.  UGS allows officers to use time, distance and shielding to their advantage to keep officers and the public safe.  Common situations that require the use of a UGS include suspicious packages, armed/barricaded subjects, hostage situations, two-way communication and negotiations with persons in crisis and HAZMAT assessment.  UGS also allow for extended deployment times, a benefit that most Unmanned Aerial Systems are not capable of due to battery life. The Lakewood Police Department’s current UGS became non-operational approximately two years ago; the company that produced LPD’s system is also out of business, no other vendors are available that will repair the system and the purchase of a new UGS has become an urgent necessity.      

A candidate UGS must be weatherproof and capable of: travel over uneven and broken surfaces and terrain; have the capability and stability to climb common residential and commercial stairs; digital cameras with recording capability for both navigation and magnified PTZ camera for surveillance; connectivity for remote, untethered operation from outside common construction in residential and commercial buildings, to include wood, brick, concrete and sheet metal buildings and two-way microphone/speaker for communication and negotiation; quick change battery power.  A preferred system would also have a multi-axis manipulator arm for opening doors and moving items.