Energetically Autonomous Tactical Robot

The Energetically Autonomous Tactical Robot (EATR) is a project by Robotic Technology Inc. (RTI) and Cyclone Power Technologies Inc. to develop a robotic vehicle that could forage for plant biomass to fuel itself, theoretically operating indefinitely. It is being developed as a concept as part of the DARPA military projects for the United States military.

The project elicited some internet and media rumors after news circulated that the robot would (or at least could) ingest human remains. Cyclone Power Technologies have stated that animal or human biomass was not intended to be used in the waste heat combustion engine of the robot, and that sensors would be able to distinguish foraged materials although the project overview from RTI lists other sources including chicken fat.

Power plant
The robot is powered by a Cyclone engine which is a hybrid external combustion engine and is a Rankine engine based on the Schoell cycle. The engine will power the vehicle's movement as well as being used to recharge the batteries that run the sensors, arms and ancillary devices.

Fuel sources
The EATR is programmed to consume certain types of vegetation, and only those types of vegetation. EATR can ingest biomass in order to convert it into fuel. EATR can also use other fuels such as gasoline, kerosene, cooking oil, or solar energy. The company also includes "chicken fat" as one of its proposed fuel sources in the project overview.

The system is quoted as delivering an expected 100 miles (~161 km) of driving on 150 lbs (~68 kg) of vegetation.