Unmanned Vehicle Technology Extends Soldiers' Capabilities and Reduces Risk

Written by Linda Ferris
From war zones to hot zones, SAIC's unmanned vehicle technology can penetrate previously inaccessible sites and offer strategic options once considered science fiction.

Ranging from small, softball-sized devices to larger unmanned ground vehicles, SAIC's technology adds new strength to worldwide missions while reducing high-risk or even lethal exposure to personnel.

Through SAIC's R&D accomplishments, semi- and autonomous robotic platforms are being developed that can penetrate physically prohibitive areas and even serve as an extension of the human soldier. The vast diversity of devices offers multiple combinations of operations such as teams or even as marsupials with varying degrees of autonomy and functions.

As a leading developer in the Tactical Mobile Robotics (TMR) program for DARPA (Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency), SAIC is focused on designing units and platforms that will offer greater independent capabilities, or "smarts." These will reduce the need for human interface that can be hampered by communication dropouts or interference. SAIC is equipping many of the advanced devices with increased perception, mobility, and actual alternative planning capabilities.

Applications of this technology are numerous. Specially configured scout vehicles, such as a HMMWV ("Hummer"), can offer reconnaissance and even tactical behaviors. Through sensing devices, the vehicle can drive a route, independently negotiate obstacles, and react much like a warfighter. This type of equipment can contribute significantly to the mixed force mission of manned and unmanned vehicles and can provide transport of weapons platforms and logistic support.

By programming behaviors into on-board planners, the vehicle is equipped with assimilated reasoning abilities. With greater levels of autonomy, risk to personnel as well as costs are reduced, and around the clock operations are constant.

SAIC also has demonstrated success with smaller devices such as the SUBOT (Small Unit Robot), Throwbot, and Packbot. Teams of heterogeneous mobile robots can perform docking maneuvers utilizing a small robot of limited sensory and processing capability with larger, more sophisticated robots like the Packbot. These unmanned capabilities are particularly important in complex and dynamic urban operations.

The SUBOT is a relatively small mobile device weighing less than 2 kilograms including its battery. Composed of two, 4-centimeter wide tracks, the SUBOT offers a self-contained video camera. It was designed for indoor and outdoor use and is capable of traversing through tunnels, ducts, crawl spaces and other confined spaces. The SUBOT also can perform as a counterpart with larger robots, such as a Packbot, and those that function as marsupials that can transport and deliver smaller devices.

One real-world scenario could involve the deployment of Throwbots in restrictive areas caused by either natural disasters, such as earthquakes or tornadoes, or even hazardous spill sites such as those resulting from train derailments.

Although restricted to human entry because of contamination, indoor barricades, or collapsed structures, a Throwbot can be thrown into targeted areas, maneuver around debris and transmit video data to a receiver to aid in assessment and recovery operations. Data can be acquired and analyzed by either a larger, more sophisticated robot, such as a Packbot, or by response personnel located at a distance.

SAIC's development of semi- and autonomous vehicles and devices, can offer streamlined and safer operations to emergency response and defense operations and at the same time reduce unnecessary risk to personnel.

Visit SAIC's National Security and Criminal Justice solutions to learn more about our capabilities and how we have helped clients in these areas.