Joint Ground Robotics Enterprise
Last Update
17 Jul 2008
Ongoing RDT&E (FY2007-2008)
Congress set the direction for consolidation of the UGV programs and tasked DoD to provide oversight over the robotics technology area. The JGRE's role has remained to (1) provide oversight on the consolidation of efforts; (2) concentrate on establishing definitive robotics operational capabilities; and (3) pursue critical technologies to satisfy capability needs. In addition to this oversight role, JGRE provides limited funds to viable technology development efforts to close warfighter capability gaps.
To support the development of the means to close the capability gaps, the JGRE focuses development on supporting Joint Capability Areas (JCAs). JCAs are collections of similar capabilities logically grouped to support strategic investment decision making, capability portfolio management, capability delegation, capability analysis (gap, excess, and major trades), and capabilities-based and operational planning. JCAs are intended to provide a common capabilities language for use across many related DoD activities and processes and are an integral part of the evolving Capabilities-Based Planning process.
The JGRE funded activities are aligned with five technology areas:
Autonomous & Tactical Behaviors. Supports the development of vehicle onboard intelligence and tactical behaviors to allow the fielding of advanced autonomous unmanned systems. The area increases the warfighter's capability by transferring and developing technologies that will have an immediate impact on the autonomy and functional capabilities of current and future robotic systems.
Manipulation Technologies. Incorporates existing technologies into systems representative to those in use to demonstrate the ease of robotic manipulation, support the development of mobile manipulation, and expedite the transition and integration of corresponding robotic technologies. Collaborative Operations. Integrates communication, mission planning, interface technologies, and advanced intelligence capabilities to support collaborative operations between manned and unmanned systems.
Interoperability. Promotes and guides technology development to meet joint requirements and promotes ground as well as air unmanned systems interoperability.
Man-Portable Unmanned Ground System Technologies. Increases the warfighter's capability by transferring and developing technologies that will have an immediate impact on the functional capabilities of man-portable robotic systems.
Technology Transition/Transformation. Facilitates integration and ensure the success of ultimate transfer or transformation of technologies to ongoing programs.
These areas are implemented through five project types the JGRE uses to support the RDT&E effort:
War Fighter Experiment - Allows promising, but still developing technologies to be provided to war fighters for early assessment so that users can develop or refine realistic requirements underpinned by sound operational concepts.
Technology Maturity - Development efforts that will provide technology base development means for the advanced technology development of subsystems and components, as well as efforts to integrate subsystems and components into UGV system prototypes for field experiments, early user trials and/or tests in a simulated environment.
Technology Risk Reduction - Robotics Risk Reduction Enablers - provides the funding to allow technologies to be matured for a specific system while the Services are finalizing capability requirements and establishing funding for formal program initiation (helps overcome the technology transfer "valley of death").
Product Line Enabler - Efforts that are required for effective robotics technology application but are not technologies themselves.
Program of Record Enabler - Efforts that mature technologies needed to enable broad robotic applications, such as UGV range extension, extended robotics communications, etc.
The following are some of the ongoing RDT&E activities that the JGRE supports. As project plans and other supporting documents become releasable, they will be posted in the password-protected section of the Library (link to password protected Controlled Docs page).
Joint Forward Area Automated Decontamination (JDAAD) - Quantify the increased efficiencies of future force tactical decontamination concepts and revolutionary capabilities and determine what the optimal solution set is in order to finalize the Initial Capabilities Document (ICD) and to generate a Capabilities Development Document (CDD).
Automatically Deployed Communications Relays (ADCR) - Provide a capability for tactical and EOD robots to operate beyond line-of-sight through the automatic deployment of high-bandwidth digital RF communication relays.
Battlefield Extraction and Assist Robot (BEAR) - A highly agile and powerful mobile humanoid robot capable of lifting and carrying casualties from hazardous environments or from under fire.
Collaborative Engagement Experiment (CEE) - A proof of principle and technology development effort to increase the users' understanding in the potential of collaborative unmanned systems. It also is a mechanism to develop collaborative messages for the JAUS standard.
Computer Assisted Robotic Manipulation (CARMAN) - Incorporate existing technologies into systems representative to those in use and demonstrate how easy robotic manipulation should be. The approach is two-fold: improve the basic autonomy of the manipulator itself, and create an improved Graphical User Interface (GUI).
Computer Assisted Tele-Operation (CATO) - In order to bridge the gap between current UGVs and future UGVs, CATO will develop and assess several strategies to enhance tele-operation of current UGVs.
EOD Cooperative Robotics - Investigate and develop advanced robotics technology for use with EOD robots. Specifically, autonomous and group robotic behaviors are being investigated for application to UXO clearance, IED response, and humanitarian demining missions.
Joint Architecture for Unmanned Systems (JAUS) - Develop and document the process for new requirements to be inserted into the JAUS/AS-4 standards.
Man-Portable Robotic Systems (MPRS) - Increases the warfighter's capability by transferring and developing technologies that will have an immediate impact on the autonomy and functional capabilities of current man-portable robotic systems.
Man Transportable Robotic System (MTRS) - Formal acquisition program; two significantly different small robot configurations, the iRobot Packbot EOD and the Foster-Miller TALON, meet user requirements.
Robotics for Agile Combat Support (RACS) - A comprehensive program designed to exploit common platforms, payloads, and engineering to provide a complete robotic solution to the warfighter. This program is composed of 5 technology areas that support the Air Force Agile Combat Support needs: Advanced Technologies Development, Integrated Base Defense Technologies, Robotic EOD Technologies, Automated UXO Response Technologies, and Robotics for Airbase Operations and Support.
Robotic Systems Pool (RSP) - An inventory of small robotic systems, payloads, and components whose purpose is to expedite the development and integration of technology into effective, supportable, fielded, robotic assets. The RSP increases collaboration in the robotics field and allows for more efficient use of DoD funds by eliminating the need for small organizations and individual projects to purchase and maintain their own robotic assets.
SUGV Range Extension - To research the capability to provide extended operational range for Ground Robotics systems (main systems: Talon, PackBot, MARCBot) and a standardized radio system for use on all ground robotics systems (SUGVs, point to point systems and 802.11 systems).
Technology Transfer - Expedite the fielding of corresponding robotic technologies to enhance the current fielded systems with more functionalities and autonomy through the technology transfer of state-of-the-art behavior and interface methods from the research environment.
Unmanned Surface Vehicle (USV) - Developing and transitioning core technologies required for robust USV operation in a real-world environment, primarily focusing on autonomy.