WASHINGTON, D.C. – The National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) today announced that the Nevada National Security Site (NNSS) has brought the first of three Mobile Detection Assessment Response System (MDARS) robots online to improve security patrols at remote portions of NNSS.
[1]The small autonomous robot, which is remotely operated from a command center at NNSS, is designed to perform random patrols. Onboard sensors and real-time video allow the operator to see intruders or suspect activity as soon as the robot encounters it. The MDARS unit operates independently and only requires direct operator action to assess situations when encountered.
“The robots are a great addition to the NNSS protective force,” said Brad Peterson, Chief and Associate Administrator for Defense Nuclear Security. “The robots allow us to improve security at remote portions of the Nevada National Security Site at reduced costs. Deploying MDARS robots at NNSS is another example of NNSA’s commitment to being effective stewards of taxpayers’ money. NNSA applauds NNSS in seeking ways improve the way it does business while maintaining the highest security standards.”
Members of the protective force went through extensive training on the MDARS. This included learning how to manually initiate and postpone patrols, how to manually drive the unit when necessary and how to use the unit’s microphone and speaker to interact with humans it encounters.
The robots operate at speeds of up to 20 miles per hour and can go for more than half a day of continuous use without having to be refueled. The robots can keep track of inventory, as well as gates, locks and other barriers, by using radio frequency identification tags.
NNSA and the Office of Health, Safety and Security (HSS) collaboratively worked to prototype test and purchase the first MDARS unit in 2009 and acquired two additional units and numerous spare parts from the U.S. Army/Project Manager, Force Protection Systems (PM-FPS) in 2010. Use of the robot will result in an estimated cost avoidance of $6 million in infrastructure investments for equipment such as cameras, towers, lights, trenching and burial of cables to support towers and motion detection units to support protection of remote sensitive areas. Additionally, the robots will result in an annual cost avoidance of $1 million in protective force expenditures and equipment maintenance. Two additional units will be deployed in the next six months at various remote locations at the NNSS.
Program support for the system came from NNSA and HSS. The Department of Defense (DOD) Physical Security Equipment Action Group (PSEAG) provided funding to the Army/PM-FPS in developing the MDARS. General Dynamics Robotic Systems (GDRS) has been developing the MDARS concept since 1993.
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Established by Congress in 2000, NNSA is a semi-autonomous agency within the U.S. Department of Energy responsible for enhancing national security through the military application of nuclear science in the nation's national security enterprise. NNSA maintains and enhances the safety, security, reliability, and performance of the U.S. nuclear weapons stockpile without nuclear testing; reduces the global danger from weapons of mass destruction; provides the U.S. Navy with safe and effective nuclear propulsion; and responds to nuclear and radiological emergencies in the U.S. and abroad.
