Developing Semi-Autonomous Battlefield Support Capabilities with the Army Corps of Engineers

摘要

Autonomous Solutions, Inc. and the Army Corps of Engineers have collaborated on an innovative system incorporating sensor technologies onto a semi-autonomous unmanned ground vehicle capable of performing forward engineering missions critical to battlefield support of the future joint warfighter. While much of the emphasis in military unmanned ground vehicle technology is focused on automating vehicles for the front lines, there are a significant number of behind the lines support related roles that will need to be filled. Support missions are necessary and vital to any significant battlefield operation, and part of the mission of the Army Corps of Engineers is to provide direct and indirect support to the warfighting effort. Battlefield support and engineering tasks are ideal for automation due to the remote and dangerous areas in which they need to be performed. This paper will focus on battlefield support missions and technology solutions for automating those missions.