Hecthor™ – Multifunctional Tracked Robot
Hecthor™ is an autonomous UGV designed for any situation. Its robust construction makes it particularly valuable to professionals in rescue and defense forces, as well as the agricultural and industrial sectors.
Hecthor™ was developed through professional research and development by the Czech company ProLab Engineering s.r.o. ProLab Engineering® is a spin-off technology company of the Czech University of Life Sciences in Prague, specializing in the research and development of autonomous technologies for smart agriculture, industry, and the defense sector. The company entered the market in partnership with S-tech Ventures a.s., which manages the global production and distribution of Hecthor.
Thanks to its manual, semi-autonomous, and fully autonomous operation modes, Hecthor™ adapts to various working conditions. Whether in agriculture, rescue missions, or defense operations, it delivers reliable performance with a payload capacity of up to 500 kg and an operating time of up to 10 hours. Designed to handle any terrain with minimal human intervention, it ensures maximum efficiency.
Hecthor™ is built for versatility and high performance, even in the most demanding environments. It features inertial navigation and semi-autonomous modes powered by an advanced AI navigation system, capable of precisely tracking and identifying objects, individuals, and routes. Equipped with cutting-edge technologies such as LiDAR, thermal imaging, and night vision, it provides optimal situational awareness in all conditions.
For remote-controlled operation, Hecthor™ offers a secure and intuitive experience via a portable remote controller or a ground control station developed by ProLab Engineering. Secure encrypted data transmission ensures safe communication. Rigorously tested in real-world conditions, Hecthor™ has proven reliability and adaptability across various industries.
Key Advantages of Our Solution:
- Made in the EU – Only Czech and European components are used.
- Strong R&D Center – Custom configurations tailored to individual customer needs.
- User-Friendly Control – Operable via remote controller or fully autonomous mode.
- Mass Production & Service – Manufacturing facilities with service support in Czechia, Slovakia, and Croatia.
- Fast Delivery – Lead time of approximately 1–3 months, depending on configuration complexity.
Casualty Transport
Rapid Transport from Hard-to-Reach or Hazardous Areas
Transport of injured individuals on stretchers or in a bio-box from areas inaccessible to vehicles or helicopters using remote control or autonomous operation. Reduces risk, saves lives.
Example of a Typical Configuration
- Capacity: Option for one or two stretchers
- Modifications: Adaptable for a bio-box or storage space
- Motor Power: 110 HP, 2400 Nm
- Battery:
- 10 kWh – Operating time 6–7 hours
- Optional 20 kWh – Operating time up to 14 hours
- Remote Control: 2.4 GHz
- Autonomous Operation Options:
- Operator tracking without signal transmission
- Autonomous navigation in GPS-denied environments (e.g., indoors)
- Battery Type: LiFe battery, 50V
Firefighting Operations
The first line of defense in fighting fires in hazardous and inaccessible locations.
Fighting fires in areas inaccessible to fire trucks and helicopters, or highly dangerous for humans. With the option of remote control or even autonomous operation for interventions in unfamiliar environments, Hecthor significantly enhances firefighter safety, provides crucial decision-making support for incident management, and maps the terrain. In addition to firefighting, Hecthor can be easily adapted for supplying and transporting firefighting equipment to challenging terrains.
Key Features for Firefighting:
- Interchangeable equipment: firefighting nozzle, stretcher, cargo cage
- Steel chassis, electronic drive, waterproof
- Tracks designed for heavy terrain (forest, mud, rubble, craters)
- Electronically controlled firefighting module
- Self-extinguishing capability and cooling system
- Motor power: 110 HP, 2400 Nm
- Weight: max. 450 kg
- Battery:
- 10 kWh – Operating time 6-7 hours
- Optional 20 kWh – Operating time 14 hours
- LiFe battery, voltage 50V
- Remote control: 2.4 GHz
Supply Operations
High Performance and Reliability for Every Payload and Situation
Strength in Agriculture
Solutions for Farmers and Row Crops
Hecthor offers autonomous operation, allowing navigation between rows of agricultural crops. As an alternative control option, it also features a remote control. Hecthor has multiple uses, but it is particularly beneficial for mowing grass, mulching, soil cultivation, and pesticide application (precision farming) in orchards, between crop rows, or in fields.
For agricultural use, the vehicle is equipped with a three-point hitch compatible with a wide range of farming equipment. Hecthor also boasts a lightweight design compared to traditional tractors, reducing the impact on soil and crop yield.
It’s the ideal solution for precision farming, where you can not only save on labor costs but also significantly reduce the amount of material used for fertilization or spraying during precise interventions.
Key Features for Agricultural Use:
- Engine Performance: 110 HP, 2400 Nm
- Battery: 20 kWh – Operating time up to 14 hours
- Autonomous Operation: In orchards between rows and over large areas
- Remote Control Version also available
- Sprayer bars
- Mulching tools
- Re-cultivation equipment
Hecthor™
Autonomous operation
Intelligent Autonomous Control for Maximum Precision and Reliability
Leverage cutting-edge technology for efficient, safe, and fully automated operation in any terrain.
What is Autonomous Drive?
Autonomous drive is a technology that enables vehicles to move and perform tasks independently, without direct human control. This system combines advanced sensors, artificial intelligence, and navigation algorithms, allowing the vehicle to:
- Detect and analyze the surroundings using cameras, radars, and LiDAR sensors.
- Make real-time decisions based on gathered data.
- Plan and optimize routes considering obstacles, weather conditions, and terrain hardness.
- Adapt autonomously to environmental changes to ensure maximum efficiency and safety.
How Does Hecthor’s Autonomous System Work?
Hecthor uses advanced AI that integrates data from various sensors and makes decisions on the best way to move. Key components of its autonomous control system include:
- Object recognition system that identifies obstacles, terrain conditions, and other relevant factors.
- Autonomous navigation, which ensures precise location determination through GPS and inertial sensors.
- Advanced machine learning algorithms that continuously improve based on gathered data and experience.
- Use of a single-board computer from NVIDIA.
Advanced Mapping and Navigation
Hecthor utilizes a combination of depth cameras (3D camera), accelerometers, and LiDAR sensors to map the environment and provide real-time localization. The navigation is based on:
- Creating a 3D map using sensors, allowing the movement of Hecthor to be controlled through waypoints or targeted towards a specific object, such as a person.
- VSLAM: Hecthor uses Visual Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (VSLAM) for navigation without GPS. In cases where GPS is available, it serves as a supplementary data source.
- Kalman Filter: This algorithm estimates unknown states of a dynamic system, improving navigation accuracy by interpreting data from various sensors and compensating for potential signal loss.
Path planning works based on algorithms for real-time obstacle avoidance. After each pass, the map is updated to include both dynamic and static elements, including the detection of people. Hecthor can also track a person and adjust its route to their movement, making it the ideal partner for autonomous operations.
Our History and Story of the Founder
Ing. Petr Hnízdil,
Founder and Managing Director of the university start-up TF ČZU ProLab Engineering©
His studies at the Czech University of Life Sciences (ČZU) led to the initial idea of creating a prototype laboratory at the Faculty of Engineering, not only for the emerging field of precision agriculture. He was also involved in the development of a tracked drone for the Czech Forests and other university projects.
In October 2020, the then Deputy Director of the Industrial Cooperation Section of the Ministry of Defense, Tomáš Kopečný, officially launched the campaign: "We Know What We Have." Its goal was to raise public awareness of the capabilities of the Czech defense industry and highlight its potential to other manufacturing and technology companies. The idea came to the minds of Dean Jiří Mašek of the Faculty of Engineering and Petr Hnízdil that they could get involved in the program and offer a project utilizing agricultural drones for military applications. The idea was well-received, and the project was approved. The university's ProLab thus became another example of bringing university innovations closer to practical application in the private sector.
The first prototypes were presented by ProLab at the Future Forces Forum defense and security exhibition in October 2022. Thanks to the innovative idea, expert presentations, meetings with industry representatives, and media coverage of the project, they managed to attract the attention of the prominent entrepreneur Mr. Jaroslav Strnad, founder of the Czechoslovak Group holding and owner of CE Industries a.s. He and his team visited ProLab's manufacturing facilities and later agreed with the university on cooperation. As a result of this agreement, ProLab Engineering© was founded in November 2023 as a spin-off company.
Show moreThe interests of the investor in ProLab Engineering are represented by the newly created start-up accelerator S-Tech Ventures a.s., which aims to assist the company with business development and scaling production through its own network of contacts.
The company focuses on the development and customization of three product lines. The flagship product is the Hecthor™ ground drone (UGV) for firefighting, rescue, and supply missions. The second product line is the Inquisithor™ flying drone (UAV), primarily used for surveillance missions. The third product line is currently in the most extensive development but holds the greatest potential due to its unmatched technical parameters of range – a vertical take-off and landing aircraft (VTOL) called Zephyr.
All of these drones also have an autonomous operation variant using AI, which not only saves human labor for operators but, most importantly, increases operational safety.
Contacts
Kamýcka 872
165 00 Prague 6
Czech Republic
IČ: 19753454
Petr Hnízdil
CEO
info@prolabengineering.com
+420 774 789 767
David Kubiš
Sales Director
kubis@cyberdronesolutions.com
+420 731 887 691
