Pearson Engineering displays RCV-Pioneer Technology Demonstrator at DSEI 2023

Pearson Engineering displayed their RCV-Pioneer technology demonstrator at DSEI 2023, showcasing their concept for the future of remote and autonomous combat engineering capability in the UK for the first time.

Designed to provide remotely controlled engineering capability to Robotic Combat Vehicles (RCVs), RCV-Pioneer responds to a need to support uncrewed vehicles of the future. Regardless of mission, such vehicles will need to move to places of their Commanders’ choosing and in doing so, defeat the wide range of natural and deliberate obstacles usually encountered on the battlefield.

RCV-Pioneer provides palletised loads of engineering capability as mission packs spanning urban obstacle clearance, minefield breaching, assault gap crossing, protection and route proving, and counter-mobility. Each mission pack is a self-contained, pre-configured frame to which equipment is integrated that has its origins in Pearson Engineering’s tried, tested and proven technology to support mobility, counter-mobility, and survivability.

The Urban Obstacle Clearance Mission Pack was shown at DSEI 2023 including a multi-purpose v-shaped obstacle blade and manipulator arm capable of both robust and precision tasks. A flat load deck will also be featured, highlighting the ability to integrate a wide range of third-party systems such as a MICLIC for minefield breaching, as shown in the United States.

To enhance operational efficiency, RCV-Pioneer uses an innovative self-lifting system to allow RCVs to rapidly manoeuvre underneath mission packs for rapid integration and removal. RCV-Pioneer mounts to the host platform using quick release fastenings, which require no tools to operate, allowing it to be rapidly fitted and removed from the RCV. The system design will allow two soldiers to fit or remove RCV-Pioneer from the RCV in approximately 30 minutes.

An intuitive Operator Control Unit (OCU) with enhanced depth perception capability is provided to enable the remote operation of RCV-Pioneer. The OCU includes a digital twin to enable training and familiarisation in advance of deployment.

RCV-Pioneer has been successfully trialled in the United States at the US Army Manoeuvre Support Sustainment and Protection Integration Experiments (MSSPIX) 2021 and 2022, as well as at the Robotic Combat Vehicle Experiment in Fort Hood in 2023.

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