An infantry officer in Germany has developed a mobile machine gun simulator robot for use during training or as a decoy in real combat situations.
Army 1st Lt. Marc Wietfeld presented his invention — named after Gereon, patron saint of soldiers — at the German army officer school in Dresden.
The 20-inch-high machine resembles a robot vacuum cleaner equipped with off-road tires and battlefield simulation equipment, making it a “capable stand-in” for enemy forces during exercises or a practical tool during actual combat.
Development
Wietfeld spent a lot of time playing an enemy soldier during mock assaults when in training, spending hours waiting in simulated buildings for the best vantage point.
He thought there was a better way to do it, so he began working on the project while studying management and media studies at the German Army University.
Wietfeld explained that he built the prototype in his basement and living room with the help of some friends.
Features
The Gereon is equipped with a smoke mortar, a mock weapon with an LED muzzle flash simulator, and a loudspeaker to simulate a machine gun.
Utilizing an optical-acoustic sensor and high-resolution camera, the simulator “hunts” enemies, even in grassy terrain or bush.
Soldiers can use multiple Gereons acting with partial autonomy to create the illusion of a larger troop presence challenging incoming enemy fire.
Wietfeld explained that the platform has a modular design, upgradable with sensors to give the robot three-dimensional scanning ability. It can also be mounted with a powerful laser to confuse and distract tactical vehicles.
“The idea is for Gereon to laser on enemy tanks, for example, tricking the vehicle’s sensors into thinking it’s being targeted by an anti-tank weapon,” Wietfeld said, as quoted by Stars and Stripes.
The 26-pound (12-kilogram) robot has already caught the attention of military officials and is now a funded German army project. The military will reportedly reproduce the one that Wietfeld created.