Support Equipment

Man-transportable robotic system

Also known as
  • MTRS
  • MTRS Increment II
  • MTRS Inc II
  • Man-Transportable Robotic System
  • Centaur
  • Centaur robot

The man-transportable robotic system is the U.S. Army's medium tracked unmanned ground robot program represented by MTRS Increment II, the Teledyne FLIR Centaur platform. Army and manufacturer sources describe it as a roughly 160-pound, IOP-compliant robot for standoff EOD, route-clearance, reconnaissance, and CBRN tasks, with modular payloads, a handheld controller, a dexterous manipulator arm, and fielding across U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps EOD units.

Profile / Specs

Specifications

Weight
No more than 164 pounds in Army acquisition descriptions; roughly 160 pounds in Teledyne FLIR's Centaur description
Mobility
Tracked vehicle with handheld remote control; manufacturer data describes stair climbing, 6-inch obstacle climbing, and 30-degree slope traversal
Manipulator
Dexterous arm with a 75.5-inch reach and five degrees of freedom in Teledyne FLIR's Centaur description
Sensors
EO/IR camera suite for day/night observation, with support for CBRN and explosives-detection payloads
Mission set
EOD, route clearance, reconnaissance, inspection, debris removal, and CBRN hazard work
Payload handling
IOP-compliant common robotic platform for modular tools, sensors, and hazard-response payloads
Planned Army objective
1,210 systems for engineer, EOD, and CBRN-related units in 2017 Army acquisition coverage
Robot Architecture

The MTRS Increment II program moved the Army's medium EOD robot requirement toward a common tracked platform rather than a collection of one-off robots. Its interoperability profile lets controllers, payloads, and robot subsystems communicate through a shared architecture, so new sensors or tools can be integrated without replacing the whole robot.

Control concept

Remote operation from a handheld controller keeps EOD, engineer, or CBRN personnel away from the hazard while the robot investigates or manipulates it.

Payload approach

The platform is built around modular payloads for explosive-hazard work, route clearance, reconnaissance, and CBRN sensing rather than a single fixed tool set.

Centaur identity

Teledyne FLIR identifies Centaur as the platform used for the Army's MTRS Increment II program of record.

Carried Charges

The African Lion 2025 video shows Soldiers using an MTRS to place and detonate a breaching charge against an obstacle.

Carried itemItem typeCarriage evidence
Door-breaching explosive charge, Explosive breaching charge, Infantry WeaponsDoor-breaching explosive chargeBreaching charge

The African Lion 2025 video shows Soldiers using an MTRS to autonomously emplace and remotely detonate a breaching charge on an enemy obstacle.

Sources: African Lion 2025 video

Timeline

Man-transportable robotic system Key Events

  1. Capability production document approved

    An Army ground-robotics overview lists the MTRS Increment II capability production document as approved on 15 May 2013.

    Sources: Army ground robotics overview

  2. Request for proposals released

    The Army ground-robotics overview lists the MTRS Increment II request for proposals as released on 9 November 2016.

    Sources: Army ground robotics overview

  3. Army awards MTRS Increment II contract

    The U.S. Army awarded Endeavor Robotics the MTRS Increment II engineering-development and production contract, with options taking the total value to about $158.5 million.

    Sources: Army MTRS Increment II award, DoD MTRS Increment II contract notice

  4. Initial fielding window

    Army acquisition coverage expected production and fielding activity to begin in fiscal year 2019 for engineer, EOD, and CBRN-related units.

    Sources: Army MTRS family article, Army MTRS Increment II award

  5. First EOD unit fields MTRS Increment II

    DVIDS identified the 55th Ordnance Company EOD at Fort Belvoir as the first unit to field the new MTRS Increment II robot.

    Sources: DVIDS 55th Ordnance MTRS fielding video

  6. 1,000th MTRS Increment II delivered

    Teledyne FLIR Defense reported delivery of the 1,000th MTRS Increment II/Centaur robot under the U.S. Army contract.

    Sources: Teledyne FLIR 1000th MTRS

Media
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Sources