Comprehensive Handling and Automated Management of Physical Inventory and Operations Network (CHAMPION)

The Systems &Technology Research team proposes to rapidly adapt Vecna Robotics’ (VR) mature commercial inventory management capability to Air Force logistics challenges. Our Comprehensive Handling and Automated Management of Physical Inventory and Operations Network (CHAMPION) system will dramatically improve inventory handling and tracking at nodes throughout the global supply chain. VR’s capability combines technical readiness with a unique ability to flexibly integrate robots and people into a shared workflow and workspace. Within this common workspace, typified by an aerial port, logistics personnel can safely interoperate with robotic agents to manage inventory (e.g., unloading, pallet handling, depalletization, crate handling, storage, picking, kitting, sorting, transportation, loading, inventory tracking). The overall system is highly resilient. If any agent fails a task, human operators are cued to assist. The architecture supports dual-use tasking, which we will exploit to maintain a running inventory check while agents pursue primary transport tasks; collected data can be fed into inventory tracking and optimization systems. CHAMPION will speed nodal throughput and thus logistics response times, and it will increase effective maximum-on-ground (and therefore throughput and surge capacity) without physically expanding airfields or adding personnel.