US Navy, Northrop complete AEODRS critical design review

The U.S. Navy and Northrop Grumman have successfully completed the Critical Design Review (CDR) for increment one of the Advanced Explosive Ordnance Disposal Robotic System (AEODRS) program.

AEODRS increment one is the dismounted operations system designed for EOD reconnaissance and threat assessment.

The CDR provided an in-depth assessment, by a government team of experts, managers and Navy and Marine Corps users, that the final design for the AEODRS dismounted operations variant is programmatically and technically realistic and achievable.

“The successful CDR so soon after contract award clearly shows the commitment of the Navy and Northrop Grumman team to fill this key gap for EOD robotic operations,” said Dan Verwiel, vice president and general manager, missile defense and protective systems division, Northrop Grumman Mission Systems.

The AEODRS program envisions to create a family of unmanned ground vehicle systems. The “back-packable” increment one system weighs less than 35 pounds and comes with all equipment necessary for remote operation.

Northrop Grumman was awarded the increment one contract by the Naval Sea Systems Command on August 31, 2015. The company says its robot uses a modular, open systems approach that allows it to be quickly adapted for a variety of mission scenarios.