The dawning of a new age of Army ground robots will soon be here, said Scott Davis, program executive officer for Combat Support and Combat Service Support.
Davis spoke during a session of the National Defense Industrial Association, or NDIA,-sponsored Ground Robotics Capabilities Conference and Exhibition, in Arlington, Virginia on April 7.
Scott Davis, program executive officer, Combat Support and Combat Service Support, discusses robots during the PEO CS&CSS Ground Robotics Portfolio session at the National Defense Industrial Association-sponsored Ground Robotics Capabilities Conference and Exhibition in Arlington, Va., April 7, 2015. (Photo: David Vergun)
“Established and emerging robotics programs of record will be fielded in the 2019 to 2024″ timeframe, he said, before describing some of those possible programs.
The robotics include autonomous and semi-autonomous systems used to clear mines, provide surveillance, convoy supplies and acquire targets, among many other things.
While ground-based, semi-autonomous systems such as mine-clearing proliferated during the last decade of war, these systems are a hodgepodge of nonstandard, non-interchangeable system parts, many of which have not yet made the transition into programs of record, he said. They were hurriedly built for the immediate need to save soldiers’ lives.
Today, these disparate systems have become a “sustainment burden” to the Army, since they are not built into a program of record, he said, and were acquired through overseas contingency operations funding.
ROBOTICS ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM
Robotics technology is rapidly evolving. The standard requirements and acquisition process is three to seven years. Under that schedule, odds are the system would become obsolete even before fielding or even before it reaches initial operational capability.
The Robotics Enhancement Program, or REP, should alleviate this concern, Davis said. The concept is similar to that of the Soldier Enhancement Program, which is not a full acquisition lifecycle program.
Once small quantities of the robotics system are evaluated, they will be expedited for validation, prioritization and funding through the G-3/5/7, Davis said. REP is now funded to do this. Twice a year, a council of colonels will meet to review battle lab test results to see if capabilities of new systems or components pan out. If green lighted, they could become requirements.
PROGRAM UPDATES
The Man-Transportable Robotics System Mark II (explosives ordnance disposal) will use an existing platform, controller and base software. The focus will be on developing a number of mission-specific payloads. The Mark II is bridging to a program of record, Davis said.
The Husky Mounted Detection System will have a deep detection system added to its current ground-penetrating radar, Davis said. A road-clearance integration system will also be added.
The Route Clearance and Interrogation System will be used at the squad level to transport gear and augment convoys in semi-autonomous mode, he said. It will also have digging capability and some other functions.
The Common Robotic System Individual is being designed to be carried by soldiers. As such, he said, it has to be light, not to exceed 25 pounds. Notionally, 15 pounds will be for the platform itself, five for the controller and five for the payload.
A Talon displayed at the National Defense Industrial Association exhibit. (Photo: David Vergun)
During the last 10 years, the Army purchased more than 7,000 “nonstandard equipment,” items such as Talon IV, Packbot 510 FASTAC, SUGV 310 mini-EOD, Dragon Runner and First Look. The Army is now sorting through the heap working to identify possible programs of record and “nesting bridging strategies in how we get there,” he said.
This nonstandard equipment is unusual, he said, in that it does not follow a normal program of record’s trail from develop, procure and provision it and then have the U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command schoolhouse take on all program of instruction for operators and maintainers.
A PackBot is shown ready for use in Djibouti. (Photo: Sgt. Jennifer Pirante)
The ad hoc purchases resulted in the unusual step of nonstandard equipment being maintained and supported at the Selfridge Air National Guard Base, so these systems bypassed normal protocol, Davis said.
The Squad Multipurpose Equipment Transport will be semi-autonomous and autonomously operated, Davis said. The Maneuver Center of Excellence has been interested in it for some time because it’s a key enabler for lightening the dismounted infantry soldier’s load.
Different versions are expected to be delivered, a large one that can haul half a ton, a 600-pound hauler and a smaller one. One prototype resembles a small horse. It is in capability development doctrine staffing, he said.
WHAT THE ARMY WANTS
Davis provided the current Army posture on acquisition by listing the items and projects that the Army covets: incremental hardware and software enhancements to existing systems/chassis; sensor and payload upgrades; modularity; open architecture in IOP, or, in- and out-processing software; standardization; miniaturization and light weight; and, intelligent behavior.
As for intelligent behavior, Davis said, think bird dog – a small ground robot that can see, smell, hear and fetch. It would also have to be simple enough for a soldier to use, as his cognitive focus would need to be on mission, not the tooling for that mission.
“This area is ripe for industry-government engagement,” he told the reps.
Story and information provided by the U.S. Army
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The dawning of a new age of Army ground robots will soon be here, said Scott Davis, program executive officer for Combat Support and Combat Service Support.
Davis spoke during a session of the National Defense Industrial Association, or NDIA,-sponsored Ground Robotics Capabilities Conference and Exhibition, in Arlington, Virginia on April 7.
Scott Davis, program executive officer, Combat Support and Combat Service Support, discusses robots during the PEO CS&CSS Ground Robotics Portfolio session at the National Defense Industrial Association-sponsored Ground Robotics Capabilities Conference and Exhibition in Arlington, Va., April 7, 2015. (Photo: David Vergun)
“Established and emerging robotics programs of record will be fielded in the 2019 to 2024″ timeframe, he said, before describing some of those possible programs.
The robotics include autonomous and semi-autonomous systems used to clear mines, provide surveillance, convoy supplies and acquire targets, among many other things.
While ground-based, semi-autonomous systems such as mine-clearing proliferated during the last decade of war, these systems are a hodgepodge of nonstandard, non-interchangeable system parts, many of which have not yet made the transition into programs of record, he said. They were hurriedly built for the immediate need to save soldiers’ lives.
Today, these disparate systems have become a “sustainment burden” to the Army, since they are not built into a program of record, he said, and were acquired through overseas contingency operations funding.
ROBOTICS ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM
Robotics technology is rapidly evolving. The standard requirements and acquisition process is three to seven years. Under that schedule, odds are the system would become obsolete even before fielding or even before it reaches initial operational capability.
The Robotics Enhancement Program, or REP, should alleviate this concern, Davis said. The concept is similar to that of the Soldier Enhancement Program, which is not a full acquisition lifecycle program.
Once small quantities of the robotics system are evaluated, they will be expedited for validation, prioritization and funding through the G-3/5/7, Davis said. REP is now funded to do this. Twice a year, a council of colonels will meet to review battle lab test results to see if capabilities of new systems or components pan out. If green lighted, they could become requirements.
PROGRAM UPDATES
The Man-Transportable Robotics System Mark II (explosives ordnance disposal) will use an existing platform, controller and base software. The focus will be on developing a number of mission-specific payloads. The Mark II is bridging to a program of record, Davis said.
The Husky Mounted Detection System will have a deep detection system added to its current ground-penetrating radar, Davis said. A road-clearance integration system will also be added.
The Route Clearance and Interrogation System will be used at the squad level to transport gear and augment convoys in semi-autonomous mode, he said. It will also have digging capability and some other functions.
The Common Robotic System Individual is being designed to be carried by soldiers. As such, he said, it has to be light, not to exceed 25 pounds. Notionally, 15 pounds will be for the platform itself, five for the controller and five for the payload.
A Talon displayed at the National Defense Industrial Association exhibit. (Photo: David Vergun)
During the last 10 years, the Army purchased more than 7,000 “nonstandard equipment,” items such as Talon IV, Packbot 510 FASTAC, SUGV 310 mini-EOD, Dragon Runner and First Look. The Army is now sorting through the heap working to identify possible programs of record and “nesting bridging strategies in how we get there,” he said.
This nonstandard equipment is unusual, he said, in that it does not follow a normal program of record’s trail from develop, procure and provision it and then have the U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command schoolhouse take on all program of instruction for operators and maintainers.
A PackBot is shown ready for use in Djibouti. (Photo: Sgt. Jennifer Pirante)
The ad hoc purchases resulted in the unusual step of nonstandard equipment being maintained and supported at the Selfridge Air National Guard Base, so these systems bypassed normal protocol, Davis said.
The Squad Multipurpose Equipment Transport will be semi-autonomous and autonomously operated, Davis said. The Maneuver Center of Excellence has been interested in it for some time because it’s a key enabler for lightening the dismounted infantry soldier’s load.
Different versions are expected to be delivered, a large one that can haul half a ton, a 600-pound hauler and a smaller one. One prototype resembles a small horse. It is in capability development doctrine staffing, he said.
WHAT THE ARMY WANTS
Davis provided the current Army posture on acquisition by listing the items and projects that the Army covets: incremental hardware and software enhancements to existing systems/chassis; sensor and payload upgrades; modularity; open architecture in IOP, or, in- and out-processing software; standardization; miniaturization and light weight; and, intelligent behavior.
As for intelligent behavior, Davis said, think bird dog – a small ground robot that can see, smell, hear and fetch. It would also have to be simple enough for a soldier to use, as his cognitive focus would need to be on mission, not the tooling for that mission.
“This area is ripe for industry-government engagement,” he told the reps.
Story and information provided by the U.S. Army
Follow Armed with Science on Facebook and Twitter!
———-
Disclaimer: The appearance of hyperlinks does not constitute endorsement by the Department of Defense. For other than authorized activities, such as, military exchanges and Morale, Welfare and Recreation sites, the Department of Defense does not exercise any editorial control over the information you may find at these locations. Such links are provided consistent with the stated purpose of this DoD website.
from Armed with Science http://ift.tt/1EZrr1c
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