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. Unmanned systems will perform a wide variety of roles, including robotic mule applications, unarmed/armed reconnaissance, and EOD/IED (improvised explosive device) inspection and disposal. While the future vision for UGVs is one of fully autonomous navigation and control, current-generation UGVs are controlled manually. Manual teleoperation requires substantial attention of one or more soldiers, which is a significant burden. A desirable near-term approach to UGV control is semi-autonomy, which leverages the planning, reasoning, and situational awareness skills of a human operator while taking advantage of a UGV's ability to reliably perform low-level control tasks. Quantum Signal LLC proposes to develop PointCom (Point-and-Go Command): a semi-autonomous command system for one or multiple UGVs. The system will be easy to operate, and will enable significant reduction in operator workload by: 1) Developing an innovative, intuitive image-based control framework for UGV navigation; 2) Allowing a single operator to command formations of multiple UGVs. This system will leverage technology and expertise in robotics, signal/image processing, control, navigation, and commercial video game interfaces. Phase I will focus on research and design of the PointCom system, including tradeoff and feasibility analysis.