Ground Robotics

Abstract

FB2: The Man-Transportable Robotic System (MTRS) Inc. II is a modular medium-sized system providing a multitude of standoff capabilities through different payloads for the Army. These capabilities include detect and confirm presence, identify, disposition, and counter hazards by providing a platform for payloads in support of current and future mission requirements. MTRS Inc. II will support current and future payload missions for the Engineer's route clearance platoons, Special Operational Forces (SOF) detachments, Chemical Biological Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN), and Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Units. FY 2019 RDTE funds will enable the MTRS Inc. II program to progress through the EMD phase and into LRIP by funding the following: Production Qualification Test asset procurement, test support, design efforts, contract data procurement, program support, travel, Virtual Clearance Training Suite development, and other expenses related to the MTRS Inc. II RDTE program. FB3: Robotic Architecture (RA) provides the engineering and development resources to manage the overarching architecture for robotic systems that are both modular and interoperable across the Joint Force in order to facilitate future modernization efforts. It will manage the interoperability standards, modular payload interface, common software and common architecture for universal controllers. RA includes the construction of program specific Interoperability Profiles (IOP) (i.e. Squad Multi-Equipment Transport (SMET), Tactical Wheeled Vehicle-Leader Follower (TWV-LF), Route Clearance Interrogation System Type II (RCIS Type II), Common Robotics System (Vehicle) (CRS(V)), Common Robotics System (Individual) (CRS(I)) Inc. II, Common Robotics System (Heavy) (CRS(H)), Enhanced Robotic Payload (ERP), Common Robotic System (Light Reconnaissance) (CRS(LR))/Light Reconnaissance Robot (LRR), Robotic Combat Vehicle-Robotic Wingman (RCV-RW), etc.) and new standards addressing emerging requirements (i.e. Cyber Security, new autonomous behaviors, new payloads, lethality, etc.). FY 2019 RDTE funds support the continued development, finalization, and publishing of the Robotics and Autonomous Systems, Ground (RAS-G) Interoperability Profile (IOP) Version 4.0. IOP V4.0 will provide the required modular open interfaces and compliance test tools for new programs including Robotic Combat Vehicle (RCV) and Enhanced Robotics Payloads (ERP). Additionally, FY 2019 RDTE supports the robotics portfolio wide analysis of software interfaces between active programs including Universal Controller, MTRS Inc. II, CRS(I), RCIS, SMET and Leader Follower. FB4: The Common Robotic System - (Individual) (CRS(I)) is the Army's small sized (<25 lbs.) Soldier back-packable, remotely operated, common robotic system. The system provides dismounted Soldiers with increased standoff capability from hazardous threats. The system consists of a Universal Controller (UC), a suite of payloads, and open architecture common mobility platform allowing for future capability growth. The CRS(I) will be designed so the operator can quickly re-configure for other various missions by adding or removing modules and/or payloads. The CRS(I) will provide interrogation, detection, confirmation, and neutralization capabilities employed to support a wide spectrum of mobility missions for current and future forces. This capability provides commanders the ability to persistently monitor the Operating Environment (OE) while protecting and sustaining the force. The CRS(I) complements the Joint Integrated Warfighting Force by providing standoff to the Warfighter during major combat, stability, and homeland security operations. FY 2019 RDTE funding support up to two vendors to develop prototypes for submission to government down-select. An option will be issued for Low Rate Initial Production (LRIP) to provide 15 RDTE Production Qualification Test (PQT) articles. This funding also supports a government IPT to provide program management, test and evaluation, and programmatic risk mitigation to address Cyber Security Controls, interoperability (IOP), and analysis of collaborative operations with various Unmanned Systems (i.e. MTRS Inc. II, Light Reconnaissance, Short Range Reconnaissance UAS, etc.) assigned at Battalion and below. FB6: Squad Multipurpose Equipment Transport (SMET) will help to reduce Soldier loads by transporting mission specific equipment, resupply equipment, and supplies required for extended operations. The SMET will be capable of carrying the equipment currently required to support Infantry and Engineer Platoons in the Infantry Brigade Combat Team (IBCT) for a 72 hour mission without resupply. The SMET will reduce Soldier load, increase squad mobility during combat operations and dismounted maneuvers. SMET will have open architectures, a remote control, support casualty evacuation, power generation/offload and chemical/biological payloads. FY 2019 RDTE funding supports the development and purchase of Technical Insertions, Logistics Support Data, and SMET Program of Record (POR) production contract to include the Statement of Work (SOW) and Request for Project Proposal (RPP). FY 2019 RDTE funding also supports Developmental testing at Aberdeen and the completion of the Technology Demonstration. Program support to include salaries, travel and miscellaneous expense for the SMET program will also be funded. FB7: The Robotics Enhanced Program (REP) uses a "buy/lease, try, and inform" methodology to evaluate Commercial Off the Shelf (COTS), Government Off the Shelf (GOTS) and Non-Developmental Item (NDI) robotics products that have the potential to enhance Soldier combat effectiveness. Actual operational user feedback and evaluation results obtained inform emerging capabilities and requirements documents as well as support of a return on investment to support future Army decision making. FY 2019 RDTE funds for the REP will be utilized to fund Iteration 19.1 and 19.2 and out-of-cycle iterations which will fund salaries, travel, ERDC and ATEC support, RDECOM support, CoE support, Battle Lab support, and associated experiments. REP will also prepare for and complete Knowledge Point 3 (KP3) in 4QFY19, which will provide a status of the REP to the Program Executive Officer. FB8: The Soldier Borne Sensor (SBS) provides a near term solution to three Army Warfighting Challenges at the Infantry Squad level: develop situational understanding, conduct air-ground reconnaissance, and conduct joint combined arms maneuver. The SBS provides the small unit "quick look" capability when higher echelon assets are unavailable and time is of the essence. The system is simple to use, expendable, and deployable in a matter of seconds to support the squad leader's decision-making process. The system allows Soldiers to obtain local situational awareness and understanding of their immediate surroundings while remaining in covered or concealed positions. FB9: The MTRS Standardization project provides the platforms to support integration and testing of payloads and technology for non-standard unmanned ground robotics systems used by Army Engineers, Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD), Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) and Special Operational Forces (SOF) units. Current system characteristics include the following: a remote controlled articulated arm with a gripper, operating range up to 800 meters, multiple illuminated cameras, a pan/tilt surveillance camera, two-way radio, and a ruggedized operator control unit. The platforms provided will support development and testing of the following capabilities: High Dexterous Manipulation System (HDMS), Multi-Spectral Image Fusion System (MIFS), and Precision Aimed Multi-shot Disruptor (PAMD). The use of robotics allows the first approach, to potentially explosive hazards, to be made by a robot rather than a Soldier. FY 2019 RDTE funding supports the development of a library of robot parts that can be 3D printed via additive manufacturing. The funding will also test the operational compatibility of the 3D printed parts with robot platforms. The Common Robotic System, Heavy (CRS(H)) is a modular large-sized system that provides enhanced protection to the EOD Soldier in order to support the Joint Force Commander with the ability to identify, render safe and dispose of explosive ordnance (EO) and improvised explosive devices (IEDs) in support of the Range of Military Operations (ROMO) and Home Land Defense (HLD) operations. CRS(H) will also enable EOD Soldiers to execute Defense Support of the Civil Authorities (DSCA) operations in response to requests from federal, state, local, and tribal authorities for domestic incidents, emergencies, disasters, designated law enforcement support and other activities. CRS(H) will support current and future missions for Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) and Chemical Biological Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) units. FY 2019 RDTE funds will enable the CRS(H) program to progress into the EMD/LRIP phases by funding the following: Production Qualification Test asset procurement, test support, design efforts, contract data procurement, program support and engineering, travel, and other expenses related to the CRS(H) RDTE program. The Army Acquisition Objective (AAO) for CRS(H) robots is 225. FY 2019 funding will also be utilized to support Enhanced Robotic Payload (ERP) program initiation. FG8: The Common Robotic Controller/Common Robotic System (Universal Controller) (CRS(UC)) provides the capability to individually and/or concurrently control multiple Unmanned Systems (UxS) platforms and control/monitor a mesh network without having to obtain and/or carry separate Operator Control Unit (OCU)s for each system. A controlled UxS may be mobile or stationary, can be smart learning, and self-adaptive. Two CRS(UC)s will be used to hand-off control of a system to a receiver, reducing hand-off time and the need for the UxSs to have multiple OCUs. The CRS(UC) will also be capable of "hot swapping" batteries where one of its two batteries can be replaced without the system being shut down, halting mission progress, and use current or new Soldier power sources that will maximize its operational time and minimize the number of replacement batteries needed for most missions. The controller will also use haptic indicators inside the hand grips to give the user active feedback of the controlled system's movements if the UxS software is programmed to use them. If and when the use of lethal systems on the CRS(UC) is approved, the weaponized payloads will be controlled via several fail-safe mechanisms to prevent accidental discharge. The intent of this requirement is allow the Soldier at battalion and below to use the Common Robotic System (Universal Controller) to operate unmanned aerial systems (e.g. Raven, PUMA, Short Range Micro (SRM), Lethal Miniature Aerial Munition System (LMAMS), Autonomous Aerial Resupply, etc.) and unmanned ground vehicles (e.g. CRS(I), CRS(V), CRS(H), SMET, MTRS INC II, Light Reconnaissance (LR), Wingman, etc. ). In addition, the project will investigate backwards compatibility for the non-standard equipment robots (e.g. FirstLook, SUGV, Soldier Borne Sensor (SBS), MTRS MK II, etc.). FY 2019 RDTE funds will be utilized to conduct user testing and select a Universal Controller.

Document Details

• Document Type: R2 Budgetary Justification
• Publication Date: Oct 01, 2019
• Source ID: 0605053A_5_2040_PB_2019
• Change Summary Explanation: The increase in funding from FY 2018 to FY 2019 is mainly attributable to the increased requirements on Project FB9 associated with the Common Robotic System (Heavy) program, a new start effort in FY 2019. It is also attributable to increased testing and technical insertion and payload efforts in FY 2019 associated with Project FB6 Squad Multipurpose Equipment Transport. In FY2018 funding for the Man Transportable Robotic System (MTRS) Inc. II transitioned from PE 0604808A Landmine Warfare/Barrier - Eng Dev, Project 415 Mine Neutral/Detection to PE 0605053A Ground Robotics, Project FB2 Man Transportable Robotic System (MTRS) Inc. II; Robotics Architecture transitioned from PE 0604641A Tactical Unmanned Ground Vehicle, Project DV7 Small Unmanned Ground Vehicle to PE 0605053A Ground Robotics, Project FB3 Robotics Architecture; Common Robotics Systems (CRS) transitioned from PE 0604641A Tactical Unmanned Ground Vehicle, Project DV7 Small Unmanned Ground Vehicle to PE 0605053A Ground Robotics, Project FB4 Common Robotic Systems; Robotic Enhanced Program (REP) transitioned from PE 0604641A Tactical Unmanned Ground Vehicle, Project DV7 Small Unmanned Ground Vehicle to PE 0605053A Ground Robotics, Project FB7 Robotic Enhanced Program.
• Service Agency Name: Army

Entities

Organizations

• United States Army

Tags

Communities of Interest

• Autonomy

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

• Additive Manufacturing
• Autonomous Systems
• Combat Operations
• Combat Vehicles
• Construction
• Contracts
• Engineering
• Explosive Ordnance Disposal
• Manufacturing
• Military Operations
• Product Development
• Program Management
• Test And Evaluation
• Unmanned Aerial Systems
• Unmanned Ground Vehicles
• Unmanned Systems
• Warfare

Readers

• Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) Autonomous Capabilities and Mission Reconnaissance.

Technology Areas

• AI & ML
• AI & ML - Autonomous Systems
• AI & ML - DoD AI Strategy
• Autonomy
• Autonomy - UAVs
• Cyber
• Cyber - Quantum