MATILDA

Key takeaways

MATILDA belongs to engineering; place it in that map before memorising details.
Learn the definition first, then one example that makes the definition concrete.
Connect MATILDA to a quantity you can measure, compute or draw — that is where exam questions come from.
Reproduce the core statement of MATILDA from memory before moving on to harder problems.

Reference excerpt

Mesa Associates' Tactical Integrated Light-Force Deployment Assembly (MATILDA) is a remote controlled surveillance and reconnaissance robot, created and designed by the 'Mesa Robotics Corporation'. It is available in many different models such as the Urban Warrior, Block II, and Scout, which feature different combinations of components for increased utility. These options include a sensor mount, manipulator arm, weapon mount, fiber optic reel, remote trailer release, and disrupter mount. When purchased the basic system includes the platform, the control unit, and battery charger.

History One key focus that MATILDA designers had was on function over mobility by identifying specific UGV applications that they wanted it to have, including target surveillance, explosive device neutralisation, material pickup and transport, weapon transport and firing, and law enforcement. Another key focus was on low cost. In order to achieve their vision, they refined platform weight ratios until they achieved a design that fit both key focuses. The designers also had specific obstacles that they wanted their robot to be able to overcome, such as stair climbing, payload transporting, great battery life, tunnel navigation, video camera, and manipulator arm capabilities. In order to make the assembly applicable to national defense, the designers built different models of the MATILDA. This was to make sure the robot helps each form of security's specific needs. The designers also wanted to let the assembly be open-ended, meaning that users could attach any attachments they needed. In order to achieve this, the designers built the robot to be compatible with an assortment of attachments like manipulator arms, saws, claws, and cameras.

Hardware The MATILDA robot is relatively low-profile and lightweight. It's capable of speeds up to 2 mph (3.2 km/h) and has a payload capacity of 125 pounds (57 kg). It can also pull as much as 225 pounds (102 kg) or up to 500 pounds (230 kg) using an optional four-wheel tactical trailer with remote release. MATILDA is an all weather robot with a 6- to 10-hour extended battery operating time and can climb a 50-degree stair incline. The robot 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 (audio crossover), and HD radio capabilities.

Specifications

Models MATILDA comes in many different models such as Urban Warrior, Block 2, and Scout Model. Each of these models is designed for a specific situation. The "Urban Warrior" is designed for military use when it comes to aggressive situations such as bomb control, drone control, and rugged terrain. The Block 2 model is designed for a more tactical use for law enforcement and the fire department. This model is a jack of traits; it comes with the technology to be aggressive to a certain extent, but also comes with the ability to do reconnaissance. The scout model is designed for pure reconnaissance and surveillance. This model is expected to be used the battlefield to get information or infiltrate enemy bases.

Uses and applications As military action grows more advanced and lethal, robotic platforms help soldiers perform tasks without endangering their lives but still accomplish their tasks efficiently. As a result, MATILDA can be used for various tasks such as: reconnaissance, bomb control, door breaching, weapon control, remote mine detection, and the remote launching of unmanned aerial vehicles. With bomb control, soldiers lives are often put at risk so MATILDA aims to solve this issue by having the capability to perform life-threatening tasks without the loss of human life. These activities are known as unexploded ordnance, or 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. Additionally, to support troops Mesa has also released special attachments like the manipulator arm, which would assist specific tasks such as bomb control even further. MATILDA also comes built with a variety of sensors allowing it to manipulate objects, avoid crashes, assemble, inspect, and recognize items. This allows others beside the military to use this platform for recreational or experimental purposes.

References

External links http://www.mesainc.com/products_robotics.htm http://prezi.com/orjl-vsubkem/military-robots/ http://www.communistrobot.com/robotarticles.php?articleid=203

Illustrations

Worked examples

Example 1 — a first encounter with MATILDA

Start with the simplest possible case. Write down what MATILDA claims or describes in one sentence, then invent the smallest concrete situation in which that sentence is true. In engineering, the smallest case is usually a single object, a single equation or a single measurement. Check that every symbol or term in your sentence has a meaning in that case.

Example 2 — changing one variable

Take the situation from Example 1 and change exactly one quantity: double it, halve it, or set it to zero. Predict what should happen to MATILDA before you calculate. Comparing your prediction with the result is the fastest way to find out whether you understand the idea or only the words.

Example 3 — an exam-style question

Typical questions about MATILDA ask you to (a) state it precisely, (b) apply it to given data, and (c) explain a limitation. Practise writing all three answers in under five minutes; the third part is what separates a full-mark answer from an average one.

Applications of MATILDA

In research: MATILDA appears in engineering research whenever the underlying quantities have to be modelled precisely. Papers usually cite it as a starting assumption and then explore where it breaks down.
In technology and industry: Engineering practice reuses MATILDA in design rules, simulations and safety margins. Knowing the idea lets you read a specification sheet and understand why the numbers look the way they do.
In the classroom: MATILDA is common in secondary-school and first-year university syllabi. It links to neighbouring topics Military robots, so understanding it makes those chapters shorter.
In everyday life: Look for MATILDA outside the textbook — in sport, cooking, traffic, electronics or the sky above you. An example you found yourself is remembered far longer than one you were given.

How to study MATILDA in 20 minutes

Read the reference excerpt below once, without taking notes.
Close the page and write down what MATILDA means in your own words.
Compare your version with the excerpt and mark what you missed.
Work through the three examples above with pen and paper.
Explain MATILDA out loud to somebody else — or to Teacher Smith in the lgStudy chat.

Frequently asked questions

What is MATILDA in simple terms?

Mesa Associates' Tactical Integrated Light-Force Deployment Assembly (MATILDA) is a remote controlled surveillance and reconnaissance robot, created and designed by the 'Mesa Robotics Corporation'. It is available in many different models such as the Urban Warrior, Block II, and Scout, which featur…

Why does MATILDA matter?

Because it connects several engineering ideas at once: it gives you a definition you can apply, a quantity you can calculate, and a way to check whether a result is plausible.

How should I study MATILDA?

Read the excerpt, restate it from memory, then work through the examples and applications listed on this page. The five-step study plan above takes about twenty minutes.

What does this page cover?

It gives you a compact reference excerpt plus original lgStudy explanations, examples, applications and study material on MATILDA.