DoD Robotics

1

Joint Robotics Program
Working Group November 78 2001
Ft. Knox, KY
Michael Toscano Joint Robotics Program
Coordinator OUSD, Acquisition, Technology
Logistics Strategic Tactical Systems Land
Warfare 703-697-0638
2
THE NEEDS OF THE WARFIGHTER
Fielded Systems ARTS with 90m Cannon
Acquisition Programs MDARS-E enters SDD
User Experimentation Put Technology in
the hands of the user, URBOT at FLW
Science and Technology Develop expand
technology, Use modeling and simulation,
Modeling ODIS at TACOM
3
BASIC UNEXPLODED ORDNANCE SYSTEM (BUGS), Early
User Exploration of Concepts

• Basic Unexploded Ordnance Systems (BUGS)
• Exploring a concept for Submunition Clearance
• Requirement to clear large numbers of small
• Sub-munitions
• Both Desert Storm and the air war in Kosovo
• left many UXOs
• Current prototype systems
• Random search
• - Full autonomy not required
• - Team of robots search a defined area
• Directed Search
• - Requires precision navigation, DGPS
• - Conduct a comprehensive search, capability
  to

• Program Status
• Prototype testing is ongoing with eight systems
• Initiate Submunition Clearance AoA in FY02

4
ROBOTIC COMBAT SUPPORT SYSTEM (RCSS)
New Acquisition Program

• Robotic Combat Support System (RCSS)
• RCSS will replace the Miniflail.
• Miniflail has served in the Balkans since 1996
• RCSS ORD approved 4 February 2000
• Improved Capabilities
• Greater Anti-personnel mine clearing capability
• Wire Obstacle breaching
• Smoke obscuration payload
• Greater modularity for future enhancements
• - Demolition arm
• - Non-line of sight link

• Program Status
• Concept and Technology Development stage
• Two contracts awarded in August 2001
• - Delivery of prototype systems in FY02
• - Initial Verification Testing (IVT)
• - Down select to one contractor for Systems
• Development Demonstration in FY03

5
MOBILE DETECTION ASSESSMENT RESPONSE
SYSTEM INTERIOR (MDARS-I)
Advancement to Production

• Mobile Detection Assessment Response System
  Interior
• Semi-autonomous capability to conduct random
• patrols in warehouses providing
• - Product assessment
• - Theft detection
• - Obstacle avoidance
• - Semi-autonomous capability
• Limited User Test (LUT)
• Defense Distribution Depot, Susquehanna, PA
• New Cumberland, PA
• Conducted by TECOM from Ft Hood, Texas.
• System operated by soldiers and security
  personnel

• Program Status
• Obtain Milestone C approval
• Award Low-rate Initial Production
• (LRIP) contract in FY02

6
EXPERIMENTAL UNMANNED VEHICLE
(XUV) DEMO III Science and
Technology at Work

• Experimental Unmanned Vehicle
• (XUV), DEMO III
• Developing Perception Technology to negotiate
• Tough terrain and stay with Maneuver forces
• Working the challenges of tactical behaviors
  
• Surviving on the battlefield
• Focus research on small reliable modular
• Autonomous mobility technology packages
• Program Status
• Field exercise with troops at Fort Indiantown
  Gap, PA
• Command and control using four XUVs.
• XUV will be the baseline system for the Robotic
  Follower ATD

7
BROADENING OUR SCOPE ACCEPTING NEW
CHALLENGES

• AFRLs Semiautonomous systems in action
• Mission Search an area for the buried Lewis
  Clark
• boat in Great Falls, MO. Working with Montana
  State
• University.
• Robotic Systems
• - AMRADS, AFRLs prototype
• - MULE, University of Florida prototype
• Equipped with the EM-61, pulses the ground with
  
• electromagnetic pulses
• Why Robotics?
• - To guarantee 100 coverage of area
• Consistent overlap on each pass to ensure
  coverage
• GPS pinpoints location to four inches
• Results
• - Two systems searched 30 acres

AMRADS
MULE
8
THE ROAD AHEAD The War on
Terrorism is First Priority
Memorial site to the USS Cole, dedicated
12 Oct 2001
9
THE ROAD AHEAD NEAR TERM
AFRL and NAVEODTECH proceeding with Next
Generation EOD Robot
Field Abrams Panther Award SRS contracts
MDARS-E will enter SDD
ONR working BAA for Gladiator
10
Summary of JRP Weight Classes
Micro lt 8lbs Miniature 8 to 30 lbs Small
(Light 31 to 400 lbs
MATILDA 40 lbs
URBOT 65 lbs
BUGS 45-60 lbs
ODIS 45 lbs
T3 100 lbs
TALON 34-80 lbs
Small (Medium) 401 to 2,500 lbs
MDARS-E 1500 lbs
Miniflail/RCSS 2500 lbs
SARGE 650 lbs
GLADIATOR 1600 lbs
MDARS-I 600 lbs
RONS 600 lbs
Small (Heavy) 2501 to 20,000 lbs
Smoke HMMWV w/SRS 11,500 lbs
T3 Dozer w/SRS 18,600 lbs
ARTS 8000 lbs
DEMO III XUV 3000 lbs
Medium 20k to 30k lbs Large Over 30,000 lbs
Abrams Panther w/SRS, 43 tons
AOE 67,000 lbs
Panther, w/SRS gt40 tons
DEUCE w/SRS 35,500 lbs
D7G w/SRS 55,500 lbs
RED DENOTES NO SYSTEMS
11
THE ROAD AHEAD TRANSFORMATION OF
THE FORCE
MDARS-Exterior Installation security
Semi-Autonomous Mobility Structured Environments
Panther in Bosnia Countermine
Semi-Autonomous Mobility Unstructured Environments
Teleoperation
Robotic Systems Must Be - Intelligent -
Survivable - Interoperable with other systems -
Multi-capable - Affordable
DEMO III Scout Mission
Bottom Line The User desires and requires
semi-autonomous, Leader Follower capabilities
for all sizes of platforms that are modular and
affordable
12
INTEREST IS HIGH

• Collaborative Technology Alliances (CTA)
• Consortium of Industry, Academia and ARL
• Established five Consortia, May 2001
• Robotic Alliance, two contracts worth 126M
• Army Science and Technology Investment
• Future Combat Systems
• - Army/DARPA largest effort ever, over 500m
  in 2001
• - Missions for Unmanned Systems
• Remote sensing
• Communications relay
• Logistic support vehicles (Follower UGVs)
• Unmanned weapons carrier
• Armys effort to complement FCS
• - Robotic Follower ATD (TARDEC)
• - Semi-autonomous Robotics for FCS Science
  and Technology Objective
• (ARL-DEMOIII)

CONSORTIA - Communications Networks -
Advanced Sensors - Power Energy - Advance
Decision Architectures - Robotics
13
FY 02 FUNDING ( in millions)
JRP 6.3
JRP 6.4
PSE 6.4
Presidents Budget
House Armed Services Committee
Senate Armed Services Committee
Authorization Conference
House Appropriation Committee
Senate Appropriation Committee
Appropriation Conference
14
Joint Robotics Program Working Group
Welcome Again