Palledrone: Unmanned Aerial System Solution for Last-Mile Logistics Applications
Abstract
In combat, one of the most paralyzing circumstances is the lack of vital supplies such as ammunition, first aid, water, and batteries. Given that the average United States Armed Forces member carries 70 lbs of armor and equipment, requiring them to carry even more equipment is a hindrance to combat effectiveness. Fighting in mountainous or forested terrain stifles wheeled vehicles from resupplying personnel in need, further burdening the overworked helicopter fleet. Other scenarios, such as maintaining a clandestine profile or operating across enemy lines, can further hinder the militaryÕs classical resupply logistics. These scenarios have created the need for a novel approach to resupply that minimizes the risk of losing personnel and equipment while meeting the requirements for reliability, autonomy, and stealth deemed necessary by the Department of Defense (DoD). This novel approach is Palledrone (Figure 1), an autonomous UAS with a 100lbs payload capacity. The vehicleÕs modular design allows for easy transport and repair. Its demo at the 2020 Army Expeditionary Warrior Experiments (AEWE) elicited praise and feedback from 100 soldiers in its target market and AEWE leadership, seeding a favorable starting position for the 100 interviews and subsequent commercialization via the I-CORPS @ DoD Program.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Oct 22, 2020
- Source ID
- W911NF2010331
Entities
People
- Javier Irizarry
Organizations
- Army Contracting Command
- Georgia Tech Research Corporation
- Office of the Secretary of Defense