To counter the deadly threat of hidden explosives in urban environments, the US Department of Defense continues to work on a crawler robotic system that is controlled by cameras designed to eliminate the risk to people. This initiative led to the creation of the Joint Unmanned Ground Vehiclle / Systems Joint Office (UGV / S JPO), which is charged with creating a viable final product for the project. The purpose was to create a robot capable of remotely controlled movement in an urban environment both inside and outside the premises as needed. The result of the development was URBOT, based on the platform Lemming of Foster-Miller company.

Lemming is a small, inexpensive tracked robot that can be remotely controlled with a simple joystick or push-button controller via a serial RF link. The URBOT configuration used mechanical elements (chassis, drive motors, reducers, tracks and drive sprockets) from Lemming, but more sophisticated electronics, sensors and a new operator control unit were replaced. The evaluation of the new vehicle by representatives of the US Army was carried out in 1999.

URBOT consists of a centralized chassis/hull, which includes a transmission, a camera and navigation / response means. To hull integrated a short tracked drive, which can move over rough terrain. URBOT includes its own headlights for working in low light or without light. Operation is carried out with the help of the remote control, thanks to which the operator is easily removed from danger. The speaker system allows you to communicate verbally with any parties seen with the URBOT video camera. Communication with the URBOT module itself is completely wireless. Due to its reasonable basic design, the URBOT can move forward and back with the same speed, so it provides two observation devices.

URBOT has proven itself useful in handling explosive devices associated with identifying potential threats on the battlefield, as well as duplication as a special element of intelligence in the urban environment in the Iraqi theater of operations during Operation Iraqi Freedom.