Integrated Solutions for Systems (IS4S) has officially announced a partnership with Kleos Technology to introduce its new line of multi-function robots at the 2025 AUVSI Pathfinder Symposium.
Arriving on the scene as HERO (Helicopter Expedited Refueling Operations) robots, the stated lineup deploys a fully autonomous fueling technology, geared towards reducing the manpower which is generally required to refuel aircraft at forward arming and refueling points (FARP).
More on the same would reveal HERO leverages waypoint navigation, real-time path planning, and obstacle avoidance to deliver up to 400 gallons of aviation fuel to aircraft at FARP for hot refueling.
Talk about how the whole mechanism works on a slightly deeper level, a single operator leverages a rugged tablet for queuing multiple HERO robots to move from a fuel source to specific landing pads when aircraft are inbound for refueling or rearming.
Once that bit is done, the robot ropes in waypoint navigation, real-time path planning, and obstacle avoidance to navigate safely towards its assigned landing pad. Markedly enough, as it gets within 100 feet of the pad, artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms are used to identify the aircraft type and orientation and to position the robot appropriately at the aircraft’s refueling port.
In case that wasn’t enough, fuel is also pumped into the aircraft at the maximum allowable flow rate to ensure the fastest possible refueling operation. Beyond that, we ought to mention that, with multiple HERO robots refueling aircraft simultaneously, the operator can monitor the real-time status of each on the wireless tablet.
When the refueling operation is complete, the robots can navigate their way back to the fuel source for replenishment.
IS4S and Kleos Technology also leveraged a new technology integration concept to reduce cost and increase reliability. The companies essentially used commercial construction vehicles as the base chassis and a quick-change skid-mounted payload mounting system to provide a standardized means of adapting any size robot to any payload.
“Our line of CREVs provides warfighters with a unique fast-turn alternative to the time consuming and expensive traditional path toward robotic solutions. By leveraging our well-proven purpose-built autonomy system that is easily adaptable to any commercial drive-by-wire vehicle, a large cadre of capability can be quickly made available. CREVs are always the right size for the mission and carry thousands of pounds of active and passive quick-change payloads. All are provided with their own custom integrated shipping container outfitted to provide quick maintenance,” said Bob Henderson, Executive Vice President of Systems Integration & Co-Founder of Integrated Solutions for Sytems.
Taking a more specific view of all what makes such an approach more advantageous, we begin from cost. You see, commercial construction vehicles are mass produced and very inexpensive. Thanks to that, IS4S robots can be purchased for as little as $100,000 in large quantities.
Next up, we must expand upon its flexibility, something which stems from how the relevant vehicles are available all over the world with a wide variety of payload capacities and sizes.
Another detail worth a mention is rooted in the technology’s reliability. We get to say so because most vehicles can be repaired in the field with hand tools, bearing fully outfitted custom shipping/storage container that comes with each robot.
Apart from that, we must touch upon the way most commercial construction vehicles are already designed for drive-by-wire operation. This was achieved by IS4S’ knowhow in removing the onboard operator controls and attaching their full-capability autonomy kit to enable almost any vehicle to be used for the operation.
Rounding up highlights would be the reusability factor. With minimal modifications required, the vehicle can quickly get converted back to a human-operated vehicle and used for multiple other missions as required.
As for some of the possible use cases, they include ammunition delivery, flightline tool and part delivery, general cargo hauling, construction, aircraft and boat positioning, perimeter security, littoral obstacle and berm breaching, at-a-distance decontamination of vehicles and equipment, firefighting, bomb disposal, remote site test support, as well as large trailer cleaning.
“IS4S’s disruptive CREV approach to robotic solutions combines commercial vehicle reliability with waypoint navigation, real-time path planning, obstacle avoidance, safety around humans, and unprecedented AI capabilities,” said Henderson.
