Unmanned Ground Vehicles

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USMC UGV Program Brief
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Assault Breacher Vehicle
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Assault Breacher Vehicle

• ABV is a tracked, engineering vehicle designed to
  breach minefields and complex obstacles and
  provide in-stride breaching capability.
• Based on the M1A1 MBT chassis, the ABV will
  provide the latest technology in crew protection
  and vehicle survivability, while having the speed
  and mobility to keep pace with the maneuver
  force.
• ABV equipment includes
• Full-Width Mine Plow
• Two Mk 155 Linear Demolition Charges
• Lane Marker System
• Twin .50 Caliber Machine Guns

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ABV Components
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GLADIATORTactical Unmanned Ground Vehicle
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System Description

• The Gladiator is a robust, compact, multi-purpose
  UGV system, consisting of three major subsystems
• Highly mobile and survivable Mobility Base Unit
• Day and Night Video Cameras
• GPS
• Laser Rangefinder
• Acoustic Detection System
• Interchangeable Mission Payload Modules
• Man wearable, hand held Operator Control Unit

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Gladiator Missions

• RSTA/Scouting
• Obstacle Breaching
• Direct Fire
• NBC Reconaissance
• Possess Ability to Employ Future Mission Modules
• obscurant delivery
• direct fire (lethal and non-lethal)
• communications relay
• engineer reconnaissance
• tactical deception
• counter sniper employment

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Benefits of the Gladiator

• Enhance ability of tactical commanders to rapidly
  detect, identify, locate, and neutralize a
  variety of threats.
• Provide commanders with additional time and space
  with which to effectively make decisions and
  execute plans.
• Increase force survivability and reduce attrition
  of Marine Corps personnel by remoting combat
  tasks.
• Maximize Economy of Force efforts through the
  conservation of personnel and reduction of risks.

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AO FNC Objectives

• Enhance the mission capability of Naval Forces
  by developing technologies that will dramatically
  increase the autonomy, performance and
  affordability of Naval organic unmanned vehicle
  systems.

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UGV Objectives

• Develop technologies that address capability gaps
  in robotic command and control, mobility,
  survivability, modularity, signature reduction,
  navigation.
• Perform demonstrations utilizing these
  technologies to enhance the ability of tactical
  commanders to rapidly detect, identify, and
  remotely neutralize a variety of threats.
• Transition these technologies to the Marine
  Corps Gladiator Tactical Unmanned Ground Vehicle
  Program.

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Approach

• November 01 Release BAA
• FY02-04 Jointly fund design, technology
  development, and demonstrations - ONR/OSD JRP
• FY02/03 - Award up to four Preliminary
  Design/Technology Development contracts for 12
  months
• FY03/04 - Downselect to up to 2 KTRs for
  Detailed Design and Hardware Demonstration phase
  for 15 months
• FY04/05 Transition to UGV/S JPO for SDD Phase

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EOD Robotic System

• Abbreviated Acquisition Program
• Man Transportable System that will be employed by
  MAGTF EOD Dets and base EOD personnel.
• Performance Objectives
• Ability to Travel in Decimated Urban Areas
• Disrupter
• Manipulating Arm
• NBC Detection Capability

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DRAGON RUNNER
MCWL NRL - CMU
Hagen Schempf Carnegie Mellon University Robotics
Institute hagen_at_rec.ri.cmu.edu (Chassis
design)
Capt David Moreau Warfighting Lab moreaudm_at_mcwl. q
uantico.usmc.mil (Project Officer)
Marine Corps Mobile Ground Sensor
Larry Schuette Naval Research Laboratory schuette_at_
nrl.navy.mil (GCS /User Interface design)
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Primary Goal
DRAGON RUNNER

• Develop a mobile ground sensor capability that
  will be employed at the platoon/squad level
  within the GCE.
• Maintain a small footprint
• UGV must fit within the MOLLE Assault Pack.
• OCU must fit within a MOLLE SAW pouch.
• Durability (to be thrown up/down stairs and
  over/around walls).

Primary Challenges
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Expected benefits to the Marine Rifle Platoon
DRAGON RUNNER

• Elevate situational awareness/extending the limit
  of human observation (around the corner
  capability).
• Provide a limited, tactical, force protection
  capability (sentry mode).
• Provide a man-portable system that will provide
  observational coverage in confined areas where
  human access is impractical or unsustainable.
• Increase real-time feedback.

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System Overview

• System Features
• 4-wheel, rear-wheel drive, front-wheel steer
• Goal weight of 8 lbs (vehicle)
• L 12-14 x W 8 x H 4
• Low Light Level wide angle video camera with IR
  LEDs for night use
• Sensor pods for sentry mode
• Earpiece for audible alert during sensor mode
• 2-sided suspension for inverted ops
• Foldable handle for throwing

• Mission Capabilities
• 2-hr. drive mode/12 hr. sentry mode using
  standard 5590 / 390 batteries
• Computer-assisted obstacle avoidance
• Anti-Tampering program
• Remote compact OCU utilizing military freqs
• Back-Track capability
• NO stairs, rough terrain, ladders, ropes,
  cliffs, trees

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DRAGON RUNNER
Schedule for FY02

• Control software design/tests (NRL / MCWL Bldg)
• MOUT/Quantico LTA (Jan 4, 02)
• Modifications/improvements (Post MOUT)
• GCS design
• Detailed Vehicle design
• Subsystem development with prototype RC model
• Integration chassis subsystems
• Millennium Dragon (July 02) Experimentation
• Modifications/improvements (Post MC)

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Wearable Operator Control UnitSBIR

• Currently in Phase II.
• Objective
• Design a practical operator control unit (OCU)
  for small UGV systems that will have minimal
  impact upon the load carried by Marines. The
  wearable OCU will allow the operator to remain
  free to perform other battle tasks while
  operating the UGV system.

From this...
to this and beyond.
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Wireless RF DatalinkSBIR

• Phase 1 Selection Complete
• Goal To develop a wireless RF datalink for
  small UGVs that optimizes performance in enclosed
  spaces and urban environments.
• Status Phase 1 Contract Award anticipated in
  this month.
• Upcoming Phase 1 Kick-Off meeting after
  contract award.

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Questions?
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Point of Contact

• Robert Parks
• [phone]
• DSN 278-6209
• parksrs_at_mccdc.usmc.mil