Marathon Robotics makes autonomous robotic targets for military and law enforcement marksmanship training. The system addresses a problem common to all military and police forces, the first time they engage a realistic moving target is in a firefight – not the right place for on-the-job training.

Marathon’s targets are designed to mimic human appearance, motion, and behaviour. A 3D plastic mannequin acts as the target and detects hits from live rounds. The custom-designed robotic platform achieves human-comparable acceleration, top speed, and endurance. The targets can build a map, localise within the map, plan paths, and avoid static and dynamic obstacles. The robotic base is ballistically armoured to protect the electronics and actuators from bullet hits.

A custom-designed, distributed behaviour engine enables human-type behaviours. For example, when one target is hit, it sends a message to others which react by running for cover, regrouping, and staging a counter-attack.

Marathon was started in 2007 by three researchers from the Australian Centre for Field Robotics (ACFR) at the University of Sydney. The company provides a unique training capability and has supplied target systems to special forces, conventional armed forces, and law enforcement units in Australia, North America, the Middle East, and Europe.