PointCom: Semi-Autonomous UGV Control with Intuitive Interface

Unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs) will play an important role in the nation’s next-generation ground forces. Current plans call for unmanned systems to perform a wide variety of roles, including robotic mule applications, unarmed/armed reconnaissance, and EOD/IED (improvised explosive device) inspection and disposal, and limited-scale deployments in Bosnia, Ground Zero, Afghanistan and Iraq have demonstrated their potential. Control of UGVs is accomplished remotely, through a command system that allows an operator(s) to receive sensor data from the UGV and send motion commands to the vehicle. While the technologies of today are not sufficiently robust for full autonomy under most real-world UGV applications, fully teleoperated devices require mastery of highly complex controls and are thus manpower and attention intensive. Quantum Signal LLC, with consultation from MIT researchers, proposes to develop and experimentally demonstrate a unique, next-generation command and control system for UGVs named PointCom (Point-and-Go Command). PointCom is a semi-autonomous command system for one or multiple UGVs. The system will enable significant reduction in operator workload by leveraging intuitive human-computer interface methods and a fused vision/odometric based navigation system to automate low-level navigation and control tasks. This SBIR Phase 2 project is approximately 6600 man hours over 2 years with a budget of $730,000.