Affordable Electric Unmanned Ground Vehicle Force Protection Sensor System -- 18-025

Force protection represents a critical safety priority for Army units serving in Forward Operating Bases (FOBs). While current systems are extending sensor reach beyond the base’s perimeter via elevated sensor platforms, further advances in threat detection beyond the boundary are possible with sensors outside the FOB. Unmanned Ground Vehicles (UGVs) can provide a safe and cost-effective way of extending reach, but the DoD community has yet to effectively exploit the combination of newly-available, low-cost UGVs with affordable, COTS sensors for enhancing Force Protection. Different types of sensors are increasingly available in the marketplace, and combining data from heterogeneous sensors is a very effective way to detect (and localize) many threats. However, fielding a multi-sensor platform is only half the battle. Optimal route planning is a critical mission component seeking to maximize the information collected during deployment while minimizing the effects of unforeseen and potentially hazardous obstructions that can disrupt operations or damage the vehicle. The proposed effort comprises work in three areas: the platform, the sensors, and mission planning. To provide the Army with a high-performance, yet cost-effective system, Metron proposes to combine a COTS UGV with COTS sensors, and to leverage existing Metron obstacle-detection and route-planning expertise.