GPS World, June 2016
DEFENSEUPDATE Performance in real time JUNE 2016 WWW GPSWORLD COM GPS WORLD 57 of skill acquisition is critical In two warfighter experiments for the U S Marine Corps Warfighting Labs recent Cargo UGV project the TerraMax system was demonstrated to be operable by veteran motor transport operators after a three day training course comprising classroom instruction a real istic desktop simulation environment and hands on exercises with the vehicles The capstone experiment integrated two TerraMax UGVs into a manned logistics convoy which was then subjected to a variety of realistic operational scenarios including unexpected road blocks simulated IED strikes and night operations Results showed the novice users were able to successfully complete mission objectives using the unmanned systems At the conclusion of each of the warfighter experiments for the Cargo UGV project operators believed they could comfortably control three to five UGVs from a single user interface without suffering cognitive overload CONCLUSION With onboard sensing and decisionmaking these unmanned TWVs can provide a force multiplier by empowering a single operator to simultaneously supervise several unmanned assets traveling in convoy operating semi autonomously for extended duration movements This advantage is significant because it permits more efficient completion of missions by lowering both risk to and demand for ground forces The procurement operations and maintenance costs for a robotic capability on TWVs will also be minimized by modernizing existing fleet vehicles with an appliqué kit but to become viable in theater operations unmanned TWVs must be able to contend with the same performance reliability and mobility in the austere tactical environments as their manned equivalents TerraMax UGV technology can be applied to any tactical vehicle and has already been prototyped on the Medium Tactical Vehicle Replacement MTVR Palletized Loading System PLS Family of Medium Tactical Vehicles FMTV and the Mine Resistant Ambush Protected MRAP All Terrain Vehicle M ATV ACKNOWLEDGMENT This article is based on a technical presentation given at AUVSI XPONENTIAL May 2016 in New Orleans John Beck is chief engineer Unmanned Systems at Oshkosh Corporation
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