JOINT ROBOTICS PROGRAM
WORKING GROUP

May 16 - 17, 2000

NAVEODTECHDIV, Indian Head, MD

Minutes of Meeting

1. The meeting agenda is provided at Tab A and the attendees list at Tab B.

Day One - May 16th

2. The semiannual Joint Robotics Program Working Group (JRPWG) Meeting was held in Building 2172, NAVEODTECHDIV, Indian Head, MD, from 0930 hours on May 16, until 1500 hours, May 17, 2000.

a. Opening administrative comments were made by our host, Mr. Paul Milcetic, NAVEODTECHDIV. The official command welcoming was done provided by Commander Bill Weber. Prior to the beginning of the JRPWG, a newcommers briefing was given to seven people. The charts used are at Tab C.

CHAIRMAN'S REMARKS:

b. The Joint Robotics Program Coordinator (JRPC), Mr. Michael Toscano, opened the meeting by reviewing the charts at (Tab D). He stressed that this was a developer's oriented meeting. The next semi-annual meeting, to be user-oriented, is planned to be at Fort Huachuca in November 2000.

c. Bill Adams, Maneuver Support Center DCD, made a presentation on behalf of the Fort Leonard Wood Commander, MG Flowers, to Michael Toscano for his outstanding achievements during the last ten years as the Joint Robotics Program Coordinator. (Award Photo)

PRODUCT MANAGER, PHYSICAL SECURITY EQUIPMENT:

d. Mr. Jerry Edwards, Deputy PM, Physical Security Equipment, Army, made a presentation on the Mobile Detection Assessment Response System (MDARS) - Interior (I) and Exterior (E). Mr. Edwards stressed that an Interior system, consisting of four platforms and the ancillary equipment, would cost about $500K. Mr. Bob Dodd stressed that the army air defense community might be interested in using MDARS-E for security purposes. Jerry also stressed that the FY 2000 Force Protection Equipment Demonstration (FPED) will be May 8-10, 2001, at Quantico MCB, VA. Information on FPED can be found at www.monmouth.army.mil/smc/pmpse/fped. Charts are at Tab E.

SPECIAL OPERATIONS MINIATURE ROBOTIC VEHICLE PROGRAM:

e. MAJ Gary Shelton, Special Operations Miniature Robotic Vehicle Program (SOMROW), briefed the group on SOCOM robotics programs. SOCOM's effort is an ACAT III and has procurement funds, beginning in FY 03. Charts are at Tab F.

NAVEODTECHDIV:

f. Mr. Paul Milcetic, NAVEODTECHDIV, discussed a new EOD Manportable System (MPRS), and reviewed the Remote Ordnance Neutralization System (RONS). He was followed by Mr. Chris Debolt, who covered the Basic Unexploded Ordnance Gathering System (BUGS). Charts are at Tab G.

EQUIPMENT DEMONSTRATION BY NAVEODTECDIV:

g. NAVEODTECHDIV sponsored a two hour outdoor demonstration which featured Andros equipment and a BUGS demonstration. A highlight was the prototypical UGS in actual use.

AIR FORCE RESEARCH LABORATORY:

h. Captain David Shahady, USAFRL, covered the Tyndall AFB projects. CPT Shahady stressed that procurement was underway for the ARTS program. Charts are at Tab H.

JOINT ADVANCED WARFIGHTING PROGRAM:

i. Commander Tom Clemons, IDA, provided an overview of the Joint Advanced Warfighting Program (JAWP). Joint Forces Command (JFCOM)'s J9 is the sponsor at CINC level. Commander Clemons also covered plans for the upcoming symposium at the end of the annual AUSVI meeting. Tab I has Commander Clemons' charts.

UNMANNED GROUND VEHICLES/SYSTEMS JOINT PROJECT OFFICE:

J. Mr. Bob Dodd, US Army TRADOC, provided highlights of the current Integrated Concept Team approach, and a status of the ICT. This briefing is part of the UGV/S JPO presentation, which is at Tab J-1.

Day Two - May 17th

UNMANNED GROUND VEHICLES/SYSTEMS JOINT PROJECT OFFICE:

k. The second day began with a multi-piece presentation by the UGV/S JPO, featuring AMRDEC and JPO personnel. LtCol LeVan introduced the entire group but starting with Mr. Joel West. LtCol LeVan described the important role Joel has undertaken to develop an access database, which TRADOC will use to analyze and categorize robotic platform solutions. The UGVS/JPO presentations are at Tab J.

(1). Mr. Steve Thibadoux then briefed the JRP Execution Plan (see Tab J-2 ) which summarizes the JRP's intended approach in transitioning TRADOC's Integration Plan and other Services' requirements into existence. This will include the handling of technology transition.

(2). Ms. Suzy Young briefed on the Unmanned Ground Vehicles Technology Assessment Process. Following this presentation, Ms. Young also provided a presentation on the Robotic Applications for Modular Payloads (RAMP) - Javelin - program. RAMP will culminate in Javelin firings at McGregor Range (Fort Bliss, TX) in Sep 00 and Fort Knox, KY in Oct 00. Ms. Young's briefings are at Tab J-3.

(3). Mr. Rob Elich then provided two presentations. The first presentation on Experimental Unmanned Vehicle (XUV), Concepts of Employment & Mission Analyses, explained the process for developing potential User applications for XUV technologies. The XUV Analysis briefing is at Tab J-4. Mr. Elich's second presentation covered the UGV Virtual Proving Ground (VPG) program. The purpose of the UGV VPG is to support tests, analyses, and experimentation to assist in UGV requirements development, risk reduction, and technology development and evaluation. The UGV VPG briefing charts are at Tab J-5.

(4). Mr. Steve Thibadoux then provided Program Updates for both the RCSS and VT Programs. This presentation is at Tab J-6.

(5). LTC Mark Lumb concluded the UGV/S presentation with an FTUV Programs Update. Of most interest, he provided an analogy of Imaginable, Feasible, Demonstratable, and Fieldable with 6.1, 6.2, .32, and 6.4 funding categories, respectively. LTC Lumb also pointed out that the RAID acronym is now Civil Support Detachments (CSD). Briefing slides are at Tab J-7.

ARMY RESEARCH LABORATORY:

l. Mr. Chuck Shoemaker, followed the JPO's presentation with a briefing focused primarily to the Forward Deployable Robotic Unit (FDRU) including information on the upcoming approach to the Federated Alliance (formerly "FEDLABS"). There will be an industry day on June 13, 2000 with an intended contract award for five (communications, sensor, power/energy, decision aids, and robotic) research alliances. These will be five year "6.2-like" efforts. Mr. Shoemaker's briefing slides are at Tab K.

TACTICAL MOBILE ROBOT PROGRAM:

m. LTC John Blitch, Program Manager, Tactical Mobile Robot (TMR) Program, DARPA, followed with a presentation of current TMR activities. The next TMR Demonstration/IPR is scheduled for September 2000 at Fort Sam Houston, TX. LTC Blitch's briefing slides are at Tab L.

FUTURE COMBAT SYSTEM PROGRAM:

n. Dr. Scott Fish, representing LTC Van Fosson, Program Manager for the DARPA/Army Future Combat System Program, provided an overview. Dr. Fish focused on the robotic aspects of this new program. Briefing charts are at Tab M.

ARMY RESEARCH LABORATORY:

o. Mr. Robert Wade, AMRDEC, provided an overview of the JAUGS program (Tab N). It was pointed out in response to a question that USAFRL was closet to JAUGS compliancy in its ARTS efforts. Also noted was that the Virtual Proving Ground is a natural test bed for JAUGS-testing compliancy.

JRP TECHNICAL LIBRARY:

p. Mrs. Joanne Horne, OSD Support, made a presentation on the JRP's Technical Database Library. It is available through www.jointrobotics.com . A password is necessary which is obtainable through Katie Jackson at ktjackson@titan.com or 256-722-5555.

ACTION ITEMS:

3. The two action items, both associated with the JRP Terminology action, were reviewed and closed. A working draft version of the JRP Terminology effort appears in the Master Plan and will be further developed in that document. There were no new action items from this meeting.

NEXT MEETING:

4. The next meeting is planned for October 31 - November 1, 2000, at Fort Huachuca, AZ.

ADJOURNMENT:

5. The meeting adjourned at approximately 1500 hours.

Approved.

Michael Toscano
Joint Robotics Program