Cooperative Control of Small Unmanned Assets (CCSUA)

Multiple classes of Unmanned Ground Vehicles (UGVs) are required to complete many modern, complex missions. Just as with humans, UGVs typically specialize in a small subset of critical tasks. Most work with UGV systems is based around the principle of making a platform optimally perform its tasks. However, this approach will never yield a “sum is greater than the parts” solution because it lacks focus on cooperation between heterogeneous UGVs. There is no methodology to elegantly and automatically fuse each UGV’s capabilities into a greater, common framework. For example, how can the IED-disposal capabilities of a TALON be fused with the long range capability of an autonomous Stryker? During Phase I of Cooperative Control of Small Unmanned assets (CCSU), Robotic Research, LLC began combining state-of-the-art unmanned systems technologies together with algorithms that provide superior, cooperative control of heterogeneous unmanned systems. Under the proposed Phase II effort, Robotic Research will expand on this work to create the prototype CCSU system. Phase II will result in a system tested and demonstrated under a wide variety of relevant scenarios while utilizing numerous heterogeneous UGVs.