Rapid Experimental Missionized Autonomy (REMA)
Abstract
Commercial-quality drones demonstrate surprising usefulness on the modern battlefield. Rapid Experimental Missionized Autonomy (REMA) will enhance commercially available and stock military drones with a subsystem to enable autonomous operation. The program, building on technologies developed under the Oversight program (PE 0602702E / Project TT-07), will focus on delivering autonomy without being tied to a specific drone design. REMA will look to develop these capabilities through rapid spirals of development. New mission functionality will be delivered through development spirals accelerating from three-month duration at program inception to one-month by program completion. Drones are either remotely piloted via radio frequency (RF) tethers or pre-programmed with relatively simple mission profiles relying on GPS waypoints. Both approaches are vulnerable to RF jamming, especially at the terminal phase of the mission. Research and Development (R&D) programs have demonstrated autonomy capabilities for drones, but these have been bespoke solutions, with software spirals of nine months or longer, too slow of a response in a dynamic battlefield. The REMA program addresses specific challenge problems, during which performers will develop, collaborate, and deliver an autonomy subsystem for drones at a rapid pace.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Accomplishment
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 2025
- Source ID
- 54abe78d8b5417041e29cd511f78f6a5