Basic Information

Name

Cameleon MK3 French Tracked Unmanned Ground Vehicle (UGV)

Designation

Cameleon MK3

Alternate Designation

Cameleon MK3

Equipment Type

Unmanned Ground Vehicle (UGV)

Manufacturer

Exail

Date of Introduction

2021

Description

The Cameleon MK3 French Tracked Unmanned Ground Vehicle (UGV) is a man-portable, lightweight UGV manufactured by Exail Technologies (formerly ECA Group), a French robotics and defense systems company with over 80 years of experience in unmanned systems. Designed for explosive ordnance disposal (EOD), improvised explosive device disposal (IEDD), and chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) operations, the Cameleon MK3 represents a significant evolution in tactical robotics for force protection and specialized intervention missions. The platform has been deployed by the French Army and international law enforcement agencies for over a decade, establishing itself as a combat-proven system that prioritizes operator safety through remote intervention capabilities. The Cameleon MK3 represents the evolution of tactical robotics for force protection and explosive ordnance operations, balancing capability, portability, and ease of operation through thoughtful design prioritization. Its adoption by French Army force-protection units and international law enforcement agencies confirms its combat-proven reliability and operational effectiveness. The platform's sophisticated manipulation system, comprehensive sensor suite, and flexible communication architecture position it as a capable platform for contemporary EOD/IEDD operations, particularly in constrained environments where operator safety and precision intervention take precedence over speed-centric performance metrics.

Ground Specifications

Mobility Type Tracked

Engine Battery

Max Speed 6.0 km/h

Range 300.0 km

System

Alternative Designation Cameleon MK3

Type Unmanned Ground Vehicle (UGV)

Manufacturer Exail

Configuration Track

Crew Unammned

Command and Control The Cameleon MK3 operator control unit (OCU) represents a substantial usability advancement in remote intervention systems. The 11.6-inch full high-definition ruggedized touchscreen provides a 3D active model of the robot and real-time video feeds, enabling spatial situation awareness critical for precise manipulation in complex environments. The interface employs a smartphone-inspired drag-and-drop paradigm, dramatically reducing operator training requirements and cognitive workload. Users can customize dynamic context menus to display mission-relevant sensor data and control parameters, adapting interface presentation to task-specific requirements. The OCU incorporates four multi-axis joysticks enabling simultaneous control of robot locomotion and arm manipulation, supporting complex concurrent operations. A critical advancement is the Cartesian mode control system, allowing operators to maintain fixed-point gripper positions while simultaneously manipulating arm configuration. This capability dramatically simplifies precision tasks such as wire-cutting, component extraction, and delicate object manipulation. The OCU is compatible with Exail's Iguana UGV, enabling unified multi-platform operation from a single standardized control interface, reducing training burden for operators managing multiple platform types. The OCU features video recording capability with USB and Ethernet outputs, supporting operational documentation, after-action analysis, and real-time data transmission to command centers. GPS localization and integrated anti-tilt management systems provide operators with precise vehicle positioning and load analysis feedback, preventing tip-over incidents during elevated arm operations.

Manipulation System The Cameleon MK3's operational effectiveness derives substantially from its sophisticated 6-axis manipulator arm, which represents a significant technological advancement in robotic intervention systems. This arm configuration enables simultaneous multi-directional movement with unprecedented workspace flexibility for tactical robotics applications. The manipulator arm extends to vertical reaches of 1.5 meters and horizontal reaches of 1.2 meters, providing sufficient workspace for accessing vehicles, buildings, luggage, and improvised devices at varied heights and depths. The gripper design features a 360° continuous rotation without mechanical limits, accommodating diverse interaction profiles from delicate object inspection to forceful disassembly of suspicious devices. The gripper aperture operates in two modes: 0-9 cm for smaller objects and 6-15 cm for larger items, enabling operators to select optimal jaw configurations for mission-specific tasks. Maximum lifting capability reaches 15 kg, accommodating ammunition collection, explosive charge placement, and other physically demanding intervention tasks. Critically, the arm incorporates automatic anti-collision safety systems and can independently reach any position within its workspace through autonomous path planning, reducing operator workload during complex interventions.

Lifting Capability Up to 15Kg

Reach Vertical: Up to 1.5 m Horizontal: Up to 1.2 m

Sensor and Imaging Capabilities The Cameleon MK3 integrates a comprehensive sensor suite to provide operator situational awareness across the electromagnetic spectrum. The chassis features two high-sensitivity cameras with white and near-infrared (near-IR) LED lighting, enabling image acquisition in both daylight and low-light conditions. The pan-and-tilt camera, a critical upgrade in the MK3 generation, delivers optical performance significantly exceeding that of earlier iterations. The system upgraded from x4 digital zoom to x120 total zoom capability (x10 optical plus x12 digital magnification), enabling identification of threats and objects at extended distances. This optical enhancement dramatically extends the operator's effective reconnaissance range, enabling threat assessment and targeting before a close approach is required. The Cameleon MK3 accommodates up to six cameras in total configuration—four standard cameras with capacity for two additional units—providing unprecedented situational awareness around the manipulator arm, turret, and body. This multi-camera architecture enables operators to monitor arm positioning, gripper status, wrist-mounted sensors, and the immediate operational environment simultaneously. Thermal imaging capability is available as an optional module, extending operational effectiveness into complete darkness and enabling detection of personnel and thermal signatures through obscuration. Additionally, the X-ray imaging system enables non-destructive inspection of the contents of suspicious objects without requiring destructive intervention, providing critical intelligence for threat assessment and the determination of neutralization strategies.

Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) Integration The Cameleon MK3 incorporates a sophisticated multi-sensor architecture for CBRN threat detection and analysis. The platform supports integration of multiple sensor types through standardized interfaces, enabling operators to configure the system for specific threat environments. Supported CBRN sensor systems include the AP4C (chemical detection), HDS101 (advanced chemical analysis), and the XAM7000 multi-gas sensor, which provides simultaneous detection and measurement of up to five gaseous compounds. This sensor suite enables comprehensive chemical threat characterization, supporting both initial threat identification and detailed contamination analysis for post-event investigation. The modular sensor integration approach—leveraging standardized interface architecture—allows rapid reconfiguration between different mission profiles without extensive field-level engineering. Operators can interchange CBRN sensor packages in seconds through quick-connect interfaces, maintaining mission flexibility across diverse operational scenarios.

Explosive Device Neutralization Systems The Cameleon MK3 distinguishes itself through its capacity to mount up to two independent disrupter systems simultaneously, enabling neutralization of multiple threats without requiring robot retrieval and re-equipment cycles. This dual-disrupter architecture substantially reduces mission timeline, particularly critical in scenarios involving multiple suspicious devices. The platform supports integration with multiple disrupter types: the NEUTREX 20mm and 12.5mm systems, RE 70 and 50 systems, LANCE disrupters, and VIPER CSL 50-70 units. Additionally, panoramic actuators enable vehicle intervention applications (ABL2000L/3000L systems), expanding operational scope to explosive threats on automobile undersides and other elevated positions. Water jet disruptors, the preferred non-lethal neutralization method in modern EOD operations, function through kinetic energy delivery via high-velocity liquid projectiles. These systems minimize collateral damage compared to explosive disruption methods while maintaining reliable threat neutralization capability. The 20mm Recoilless MKIII water jet disrupter, exemplifying systems compatible with the platform, delivers a liquid projectile at approximately 360 m/s with 3.1 kJ of kinetic energy, sufficient to disrupt small and medium-sized explosive and electronic components.

Operating Temperature -20°C to +50°C

Waterproofing IP65 rating

Dimensions

Length 67 cm

Width 52 cm

Height 19 cm

Weight, Combat 27.7 kg

Automotive

Engine Name INA

Engine Type Battery

Engine Power INA

Maximum Range 300m (STD) or 500m (COFDM)

Maximum Speed 6 km/h

Amphibious No

Obstacle Clearance 25 cm

Slope Climbing 45° slopes

Stair Climbing 35°

Protection

Armor INA

Applique Armor INA

NBC Protection No

Image Sources

Notes https://www.exail.com/product-range/unmanned-ground-vehicles; https://www.armyrecognition.com/archives/archives-land-defense/2021/eca-group-unveils-upgrades-on-its-cameleon-ugv-designated-mk3; https://www.armyrecognition.com/archives/archives-land-defense/2021/eca-group-unveils-upgrades-on-its-cameleon-ugv-designated-mk3