MATILDA
Remote controlled surveillance and reconnaissance robot for military and law enforcement.
The Tactical Integrated Light-Force Deployment Assembly (MATILDA) is a remote-controlled robot built by Mesa Robotics Corporation for surveillance and reconnaissance. It comes in several versions, such as the Urban Warrior, Block II, and Scout, which use different component setups to boost usefulness. A standard purchase includes the robot platform, a control unit, and a battery charger.
Designers prioritized function over mobility, targeting specific jobs like target surveillance, bomb disposal, material transport, weapon carrying and firing, and law enforcement. They also aimed for low cost, refining weight ratios to meet both goals. The robot was built to handle stairs, carry payloads, operate for long periods, navigate tunnels, and use a video camera and manipulator arm. Different models were created to fit the needs of various security branches, and the design is open-ended, letting users attach tools like arms, saws, claws, and cameras.
The MATILDA is low and light, moving up to 2 mph with a 125-pound payload capacity. It can pull 225 pounds, or up to 500 pounds with an optional four-wheel trailer that releases remotely. It works in all weather, runs 6 to 10 hours on extended battery, and climbs 50-degree stairs. It has a pan-tilt-zoom camera for color and black-and-white video, a rear fixed black-and-white camera, two-way audio, and HD radio.
Models include the Urban Warrior for military bomb control, drone control, and rough terrain; the Block II for tactical law enforcement and fire department use, balancing aggression with reconnaissance; and the Scout for pure reconnaissance and surveillance on battlefields.
As military operations grow more advanced, MATILDA helps soldiers handle dangerous tasks without risking lives. It performs reconnaissance, bomb control, door breaching, weapon control, remote mine detection, and launches unmanned aerial vehicles. For bomb control, it tackles unexploded ordnance (UXO) like land mines in any weather. Special attachments, such as a manipulator arm, assist with bomb control. Its sensors let it manipulate objects, avoid crashes, assemble, inspect, and recognize items, making it usable for recreational or experimental purposes beyond the military.
Quick Facts
- Speed
- 2 mph / 3.22 km/h
- Payload capacity
- 125 lb / 56.7 kg
- Towing capacity
- 225 lb (500 lb with optional trailer)
- Battery operating time
- 6 to 10 hours
- Maximum stair incline
- 50 degrees
- Cameras
- Pan–tilt–zoom (color and black/white), rear fixed black/white
- Audio
- Two-way audio with audio crossover
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
MATILDA was designed with a focus on function over mobility, targeting specific UGV applications such as target surveillance, explosive device neutralisation, material pickup and transport, weapon transport and firing, and law enforcement. Another key focus was low cost. Designers refined platform weight ratios to achieve a design that fit both priorities. They also specified obstacles the robot should overcome, including stair climbing, payload transporting, great battery life, tunnel navigation, video camera, and manipulator arm capabilities. To make the assembly applicable to national defense, different models were built to meet the specific needs of each security branch. The design was made open-ended, allowing users to attach any needed attachments, and the robot was built to be compatible with manipulator arms, saws, claws, and cameras.
The MATILDA robot is relatively low-profile and lightweight. It is an all-weather robot with a 6- to 10-hour extended battery operating time and can climb a 50-degree stair incline. It comes equipped with a pan–tilt–zoom camera capable of producing both color and black and white resolution, a rear fixed black and white resolution camera, two-way audio, and HD radio capabilities. The robot can pull up to 225 lb, or up to 500 lb using an optional four-wheel tactical trailer with remote release.
Models include the Urban Warrior, designed for military use in aggressive situations such as bomb control, drone control, and rugged terrain; the Block 2, designed for tactical use by law enforcement and fire departments, offering a balance of aggression and reconnaissance; and the Scout model, designed for pure reconnaissance and surveillance on the battlefield to gather information or infiltrate enemy bases.
Reader's Guide
As military action grows more advanced and lethal, robotic platforms like MATILDA help soldiers perform tasks without endangering their lives while still accomplishing tasks efficiently. MATILDA can be used for reconnaissance, bomb control, door breaching, weapon control, remote mine detection, and the remote launching of unmanned aerial vehicles. In bomb control, soldiers' lives are often put at risk, so MATILDA aims to solve this issue by performing life-threatening tasks without the loss of human life, particularly in unexploded ordnance (UXO) activities. Military personnel can use MATILDA to detect and neutralize different types of UXOs, such as man-to-man and land-mine situations, in all types of weather. Mesa has also released special attachments like the manipulator arm to assist specific tasks such as bomb control. MATILDA comes built with a variety of sensors allowing it to manipulate objects, avoid crashes, assemble, inspect, and recognize items, which also allows others beside the military to use the platform for recreational or experimental purposes.
More in Ground Robots and Military Robots
Spotted an error? Know more?
Reader corrections go straight into our review queue. Suggest an edit · How this site is sourced