Specialized Robot / Human Teams for Limited Tactical Maneuvers

Perceptronics Solutions, Inc., together with the University of Southern California Computer Science Department’s TEAMCORE Group and Robotics Research Lab, presents this proposal to develop a Multi Agent Adjustable Autonomy Framework (MAAF) to support multi-robot, multi-human teams in performing specialized tactical maneuvers. This project will apply advances in goal-oriented, multi-agent planning and coordination technology to the creation of an infrastructure that will facilitate cooperative and collaborative performance of human and robots as equal team partners. The main challenge is to take full advantage of the unique capabilities of teams composed of robots, agents and people (RAPs) to improve the safety, efficiency, reliability and cost at which mission goals can be achieved, while maintaining dynamic adaptation to the real-world operating environment with its special limitations and contingencies. Our proposed system is based on several innovative products, including: TEAMCORE Group’s Machinetta, a state-of-the-art robot proxy framework with adjustable autonomy and a domain-independent teamwork model; Perceptronics’ Composable Command Language (CCL), a high-level language and tool set that enables tasking of heterogeneous unmanned vehicle teams with varying levels of autonomy; and Perceptronics' Mixed Initiative Team Performance Assessment System (MITPAS)to measure and assess the performance of teams involving both human and robotic elements.