Autonomous Retrieval and Delivery

Commercial industry has begun to integrate flexible robotic material handling solutions to improve the efficiency and reliability of operations. This has been particularly true for manufacturing facilities and warehouses, which have begun to integrate a range of autonomous vehicles for retrieving and moving supplies as well as robotic manipulators for retrieving components. However, military sustainment depots have not yet integrated these emerging technologies, which would enable support personnel to spend more time sustaining vehicle platforms and weapon systems and less time simply retrieving parts and supplies needed for the process.   During previous efforts, Cybernet demonstrated that our AMHT autonomous vehicle applique kit is capable of automating the key functions of material movement vehicles (forklifts, tugs, etc.) to create an autonomous retrieval and delivery capability. For the current effort, we propose to build on the previous successful technology demonstrations to prepare the technology for successful transition to Navy use. This will include integrating the software with both existing and emerging Navy material management software solutions, improving the usability of deployment, command and control, and monitoring tools, enhancing the overall AMHT capabilities related to Navy mission scenarios, and evaluating requirements for achieving an Authority to Operate or Authority to Test. As part of the Autonomous Retrieval and Delivery project we will outfit an additional autonomous forklift and an additional autonomous tow tractor to use for testing performance and evaluating capabilities at a second Navy facility.