Italian company MDB proposes its LV 800 Pro UGV for steep slope mine clearance.

At the Eurosatory 2024 exhibition, the Italian company MDB proposed its LV 800 Pro remote-controlled vehicle for mine-clearing operations. This unmanned ground vehicle offers various advantages, including a wide clearance width of up to 2.07 m, a clearance depth of over 250 mm, and various compatible equipment such as a demining slasher, dozer bucket or blade, flail with fixed hammers, flail with rotating knives, tiller, front forklift, and rotational gripper.
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The demining slasher on the LV 800 Pro is used for area and mine clearance, neutralizing anti-personnel landmines and unexploded ordnance (UXOs) with a clearing width of up to 2.07 m. (Picture source: Army Recognition)

MDB SRL, founded in 1977 by Mario Di Biase in Rizzacorno, Italy, specializes in the design and manufacture of remote-controlled machinery for agriculture and industry, recognized for integrating advanced hydraulic systems and maintaining a focus on safety. The company, now based in Fossacesia, Chieti, has developed solutions such as low-profile agricultural trailers, construction mini tractors, and heat exchanger extractors for refineries. MDB's Green Climber series features remote-controlled mini tractors designed for safe operation on steep slopes.

The LV 800 Pro, part of the Green Climber series, is a remote-controlled tracked vehicle equipped with a side shifter capability of 500 mm (hydraulic) plus an additional 500 mm (mechanical). The undercarriage is expandable with a patented design and also features a patented special engine lubrication system. A hydraulic quick coupling plate is included for rapid attachment of tools, and the undercarriage is specifically designed for steep slopes, managing inclines up to 60° in all directions. It also has a patented track anti-derailment system, an MDB turbine air pre-filter, and a tow hitch.

The hydraulics system features a hydrostatic proportional transmission. The accessory main pump delivers 106 liters per minute at 350 bar in a piston closed-loop configuration, and the service pump provides 35 liters per minute at 180 bar. There are three proportional auxiliary hydraulic outputs, and the vehicle has an oil tank capacity of 32 liters.

In terms of dimensions, this Italian unmanned ground vehicle (UGV) has a total length of 2.51 m, extending to 3.335 m when equipped with a demining slasher. The overall width is 1.51 m when closed and 1.91 m when open. The height of the vehicle is 1.19 m, and it weighs 1,910 kg.

The vehicle is driven using a single, fully proportional joystick, while operational control of the LV 800 Pro is facilitated through a radio control system calibrated for 100 meters for visibility reasons. (Picture source: Army Recognition)

The vehicle is powered by a Kohler Turbo Intercooler Common Rail engine, model KDI2504TCR/26°. This four-cylinder diesel engine produces 74.3 hp and 315 Nm of torque at 1,500 rpm. It complies with Stage V and EPA Tier 4 Final emissions regulations. The cooling system is liquid with a reversible fan and an oversized radiator. The fuel tank capacity is 52 liters. The maximum speed of the vehicle is 9 km/h.

Operational control of the LV 800 Pro is facilitated through a radio control system calibrated for 100 meters for visibility reasons. The vehicle is driven using a single, fully proportional joystick. An onboard battery charger compartment is included.

The LV 800 Pro supports various compatible accessories, including a demining slasher, dozer bucket or blade, flail with fixed hammers, flail with rotating knives, tiller, front forklift, and rotational gripper. The demining slasher is used for area and mine clearance, neutralizing anti-personnel landmines and unexploded ordnance (UXOs) with a clearing width of up to 2.07 m. The dozer bucket or blade is used for earth moving and breaching, with a pushing capacity of 4 tons and a clearing width of up to 1.8 m. Both types of flails are designed for mine clearance, achieving a clearance depth of over 250 mm. The tiller is used for post-neutralization land maintenance with a clearance depth of up to 300 mm. The front forklift is utilized for logistics and manipulation, with a lifting height of 2,390 mm and tool dimensions of 1,400 x 1,290 x 950 mm. The rotational gripper is for breaching, obstacle removal, and earth moving, with a lifting capacity of 1,500 kg and a pushing capacity of 4 tons.