Air Force Research Laboratory Airbase Technologies Division Force Protection Branch Robotic Technolo

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Air Force Research LaboratoryAirbase
Technologies DivisionForce Protection
BranchRobotic Technologies ResearchTyndall Air
Force Base, FL
Robotics Research Group Tyndall AFB,
Florida 850-283-3725
24-25 June 2003
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Overview

• Airborne Engineer EOD
• REDCAR
• Robo-Trencher
• Stork
• FP Battlelab Robot Exposition

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Airborne Engineer Project Overview
Robotic Technologies for Airborne REDHORSE
Capability
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Airborne Engineer ARTS
Objectives

• Develop a prototype concept demonstrator that
  will provide small area ordnance clearance system
  to allow rapid beddown of RED HORSE personnel
• System includes Power Rake, GPS, New Laptop
  Operator Control Station, Clam Shell Bucket, and
  AR-10, 7.62mm rifle for Stand off Munitions
  Disruption.

Goal(s)
The Chief of Staff (CSAF), United States Air
Force (USAF) stated that the Air Force requires
an Airborne Rapid Engineer Deployable Heavy
Operations Repair Squadron, Engineers (RED HORSE)
combat engineer capability to Assess, Prepare
and Establish contingency airbases in remote
locations through airdrop, air-insertion, or
air-delivery. AFRL/MLQF goal is to fulfill the
CSAF stated
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ARTS Power Rake
Objectives

• Armor and harden COTS system for military use
• Conduct field trials to evaluate system and
  provide feedback for modifications
• Document and make available prototype system

Goal(s)
Provide Air Force EOD with the capability to
perform small area clearance of anti-personnel
mines and submunitions using the ARTS robotic
system.
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Airborne ARTS Airdrop Certification
Objectives

• Certify a modified ARTS for parachute deployment
  into austere environments
• Conduct one crane drop, two preliminary drop
  tests from a C-130, and one final certification
  drop
• Document and make available prototype system

Goal(s)
Provide Air Force EOD (REDHORSE) with the
capability to airdrop an ARTS into austere
forward operating locations to perform small area
clearance of anti-personnel mines and
submunitions.
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Airborne ARTS Airdrop Certification
Test Parameters

• Airspeed 140 knots
• Attitude 1500ft AGL
• Total Load Weight 12, 650lbs.

2d Test Drop-22 Apr 03
All tests performed at Ft. Bragg/Pope AFB, NC
using ANG C-130 assets. ARTS sustained a max of
8Gs during testing. No electrical or mechanical
problems encountered during preliminary
drops. Final certification drop Tue, 29 Apr 03
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ARTS Standoff Munitions Disruption(AFRL Low Cost
SMUD)
Goals and Objectives
Description
This research effort is the second in the three
phase approach to investigate the capability to
remotely clear submunitions targets of multiple
unexploded ordnance by remotely firing a weapon
at down range munitions in order to disrupt the
charge . With the remote capability of the ARTS
coupled with the remote fire capability, range
clearance operations will be safer for EOD
personnel. This also has SF applications

• Investigate Trap 250 and low cost system for
  integration to ARTS.
• Provide a JAUS compliant standoff capability for
  command and control of munitions disruption.
• Establish a remote firing capability for the ARTS.

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Tele-present Remote Aiming Platform (TRAP)
Current Status

• Developed instituting JAUS Messaging
• Drafted Remote Weapon System Safety Design
  Criteria for NNMSB WSESRB
• Documentation Available Effects All Remote
  Fired Weapons Systems
• Briefed NNMSB on 13 May 03
• Collaboration with NNMSB Ongoing-ECD Dec 03

Goal(s)
Provide USAF USMC EOD with the remote
capability to perform Standoff Munitions
Disruption (SMUD) with a JAUS compliant system
capable of being integrated to any remote
platform.
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AFRL Remote Weapon System Proposal
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AFRL Remote Weapon System Proposal
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REDCARMr. Brian Skibba

• REmote Detection, Challenge, and Response

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REDCARProject Overview

• Force Protection Battlelab Initiative
• Demonstrate the benefits of unmanned systems for
  the security force mission
• Perimeter defense of Air Force installations and
  forward deployed units
• Network of robotic platforms integrated with
  existing security force sensors and Tactical,
  Area Security System (TASS)
• The AFRL Force Protection Branch, Robotics
  Research and Development Group is the technical
  developer and program manager for the REDCAR
  initiative.
• Operational requirements for REDCAR are in the
  Integrated Base Defense 2020 Concept of
  Employment (IBD2020 CONEMP).

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REDCARSystem of Systems
Network of platforms for tiered response

• Surveillance platform
• area surveillance duties with limited intruder
  challenge and response capabilities

• Engagement Platform
• perform the challenge, response, and delay
  components

• C2ISR System
• single laptop computer that will control the
  robotic network

• Small-scale Platform
• provide reconnaissance in limited access areas

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REDCAR Technology IPTPAYLOAD and TOOL MODULES

• Low and No Light Optics
• n      EO Camera, Night Vision, Thermal Imager,
  Laser Range Finder, (Pan/Tilt/Zoom) 

• PA System with Intercom Interface
• n      Talk and Listen Capability
• n      Language Translator Capability

• Illumination
• n      10M CP Directional Spotlight
• n     Police Light Bar

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REDCAR Technology IPTPAYLOAD and TOOL MODULES
4. Non-Lethal Uses of Force Weapon n     
Pepper Spray/Fog--Riot Control Agent n     
Pepper Spray/Fog must be secured to the vehicle
to prevent theft or removal by unauthorized
personnel
5. Lethal Use of Force Weapon n      M-16 with
100rd Magazine. n      Weapon must be secured to
vehicle to prevent theft or removal from vehicle
by unauthorized personnel
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C2ISR SystemIntegrated Network with Single Point
of Control
Requirements Capabilities

• Common Operator Control Interface
• Basic control functions
• System Status and Alarm Monitoring
• Topographical Map Displays
• Central Command and Control
• Robotic network communicates using JAUS protocol
• Common control commands
• Single RF network
• Sensor fusion,
• Ability to pass control between operators
• Control Many Robots at the same time
• Integrated with existing SF annuciators and
  systems (TASS)

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REDCAR Technology IPTProgram Plan
Apr-Jun 04
Apr-Jun
Jul-Sep
Oct-Dec
Jan-Mar
REDCAR Activity
Concept Definition
Technology Development
Component Eval
Platform Eval
Tracked development retains flexibility Plan to
align systems evaluations Eval Plan will define
MOEs
Systems Eval
REDCAR
Systems Eval
Component Eval
MDARS-E
Platform Eval
Demonstrations
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• Robo-Trencher

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ROBO-TRENCHER PROJECT OVERVIEW
US Air Force 738 EIS (Engineering Installation
Squadron) Initiative

• -Provide a standoff capability to perform cable
  trenching and excavation mission in hazardous
  areas
• Convert 738 EIS organic equipment to be a
  teleoperated system using standard ARTS robotic
  hardware
• The AFRL Force Protection Branch, Robotics
  Research and Development Group is the technical
  developer and program manager for the
  Robo-Trencher initiative.

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ROBO-TRENCHER PROJECT ACCOMPLISHMENTS

• Design, Build, Testing, and Delivery of
  Robo-Trencher in 75 Days
• Integration of ARTS robotic components to Ditch
  Witch 7610 Trenching Tractor
• Demonstrated feasibility of using ARTS robotics
  system as a robotic kit

• Demonstrated remote trenching capability using
  ARTS to ESC Commander Lt. Gen. William Looney

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ROBO-TRENCHER PATH FORWARD

• System testing in forward areas by deployed units
• Potential need to convert three more systems
• Potential spiral development for increased
  capabilities

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ROBO-TRENCHER Program Plan
2003
Activity
July Dec 04
March
April
May
Jun
System will be delivered to 738 EIS for field
evaluation phase 27 June 03 Spiral development
ongoing to support increased capabilities.
Concept Definition
Detail Design
Receive Trencher
Technology Development
Training
Robo-Trencher
Integration
System Delivery
Test Debug
Field Evaluation
Spiral Development
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• Project Stork

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Project StorkMission Statement

• Demonstrate the military applications to deliver
  an Unmanned Ground Vehicle (UGV) from an Unmanned
  Aerial Vehicle (UAV) and to use a communications
  relay, on a UAV, to extend the range of control
  beyond current system ranges for the UGV in an
  urban environment.

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Background

• Historically services and DARPA have experimented
  individually with UGVs and UAVs, however
  challenges still exist
• How do you control past 1-2 km line of sight
• How do you employ/deploy these UGVs
• USSOCOM Pathfinder ACTD expands use of UGVs to
  conduct airfield survey and other RSTA type
  missions in denied areas
• USAF AFRL is leading the technology in the
  establishment of a common interface for all
  unmanned systems called Joint Architecture for
  Unmanned Systems (JAUS).
• No service is actively putting the entire picture
  of emplacement, control, and dissemination
  together to make UGVs/UAVs a seamless
  architecture

Emplacement/Control of UGVs from UAVs can not
only support urban applications, but also aid in
our search in caves and other denied areas!
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Stork Objectives

• Demonstrate communications solution to remotely
  control a UGV and its sensors beyond current
  system ranges (1-2 km).
• Demonstrate the delivery of a UGV by a UAV into a
  desired area of interest.
• Demonstrate effectiveness of JAUS architecture to
  control multiple (two) UGVs through a
  communications relay.
• Demonstrate effectiveness of UAV/UGV integration
  to provide persistent target information for the
  Intelligence Preparation of the Battlespace.

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Systems Architecture
S-Band Tx 2318.5 2325.5 MHz Rx 2212.5 2235.5
MHz
EEL UGV
UAV Ground Control Station (GCS)
2.4-2.4835 GHz
Matilda
L-Band Tx 1.827 GHz Rx 1.767 GHz
ARTSAll-purpose Remote Transport System
JAUS-Operator Control Unit (OCU)
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Joint Architecture for Unmanned Systems (JAUS)

• JAUS Interface Specification defining message
  sets for the command and control of unmanned
  systems. Open architecture approach allows
  multiple developers from different organizations
  to develop systems to a common set of standards.
• Goal Reduce life cycle costs of unmanned
  systems (AIR, GROUND, SEA, STATIONARY) through
  interoperable/interchangeable component
• architecture.
• Working Group 55 representatives, over 22
  organizations-industry, government, academia.

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UGV Drop at Eglin AFB
Video on following slide shows successful aerial
insertion of UGV from UAV
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(No Transcript)
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UAV/UGV VideoFinal Testing and Demo at Eglin
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(No Transcript)
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Demonstration Results

• Control UGV beyond current system ranges (1-2km)
  with UAV relay
• Emplace a UGV with a UAV into desired area
• Control two UGVs through UAV relay
• Provide target information to UGV operator

Relay allows control of UGVs out to 26 km
Accomplished
Partial Success
Unsuccessful
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MAVMini Air Vehicle
Goals and Technologies
Description

• Small unmanned helicopter, equipped with
  stabilization module allowing safe and reliable
  flight control with minimal training.
• Project Established Jul 02
• Aerial Imagery Demonstration Feb 03
• JAUS compatibility Aug 03

• Provide aerial imagery from a small, stationary
  platform
• Test platform for JAUS-compatible UAV
• Platform for future UAV research

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R-Max
Goals and Technologies
Description

• Small unmanned helicopter with increased payload,
  equipped with stabilization module allowing safe
  and reliable flight control with minimal
  training.
• Vehicle Procurement Jun 03

• Aerial Communications Relay Vehicle
• Small UGV deployment
• JAUS-compatible UAV
• Platform for future UAV research

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ACRV ConceptAerial Communications Relay Vehicle

• Demonstrate the advantages of using a rotary-wing
  vehicle as an aerial communications relay
  platform to effectively extend the radio range of
  unmanned ground vehicles beyond line of sight in
  an urban operations scenario.

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USAF Force Protection Battlelab Exposition
The USAF Force Protection Battlelab is hosting
a Robotic Applications Related to Force
Protection Exposition. 6 August 2003 Southwest
Research Institute San Antonio, TX Over 20
Unmanned Ground Vehicles (UGVs) will be on
display and performing demonstrations. The event
is open to all who have an interest in robotic
platforms. Contact SMSgt Mike Mikell at
Kenneth.Mikell_at_lackland.af.mil, [phone]  
 
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Air Force Research LaboratoryAirbase
Technologies DivisionForce Protection
BranchRobotic Technologies ResearchTyndall Air
Force Base, FL
Robotics Research Group Tyndall AFB,
Florida 850-283-3725
24-25 June2003