Intelligent Vehicle Behaviors for Explosive Hazard Detection&Neutralization on Narrow Unimproved Routes

This work will develop and demonstrate a mid-sized robotic remote standoff improvised explosive device defeat (IEDD) capability to support soldiers in remote rugged terrain such as that found in Afghanistan. Robotic behaviors will be developed tested and refined to simplify many of the complex tasks associated with system including robot navigation, sensor scanning, analysis of anomalies, hazard avoidance, and neutralization. This will reduce soldier workload, increase safety, and improve situational awareness while supporting highly effective remote IEDD. This work builds on a framework of capabilities developed and demonstrated concurrently with performance of Phase I of this SBIR. The work addresses an identified military capability gap between the small unmanned ground vehicles (e.g., PackBot and Talon) and larger Husky Mine Detection System. The system will be comprised of the Mesa Acer robot and flail, perception sensors, Geophex GEM-3M sensor, a multi-degree of freedom arm, operator control unit(s), and behavioral control and visualization software. The assembled system will include a IEDD Mission Module that mounts on the robot and provides control commands for the robot and onboard equipment. The Module also passes mission information and tasking back and forth between the robot side and OCU side through a wireless military radio system.