Preliminary Investigation on the Application of Robotics to Missile Fire Control

摘要

This report explores the possible applications of artificial intelligence and robotics to Army fire control problems. A candidate robotics system is presented and its development is detailed. The system is a ground Remote Target Acquisition/Designation System which would be developed in stages and would make use of technology existing in HELLFIRE, FOG-M, and other related systems. It is intended to evolve from a relatively simple surveillance and designation system to an essentially autonomous fire control system. It has the advantages of removing the soldier to a less hazardous position, allowing the operator(s) to oversee the operation of many robotic forward observers, and allowing the acquisition and designation of many robotic forward observers, and allowing the acquisition and designation of targets over a wide area. In the latter evolutionary stages, the system should be equipped with weapons and be autonomous or semi-autonomous. (Author)