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2020-01-08
Armies of the Future Switching to UGVs
PART II
Computer-controlled systems are inherently easier to integrate into the digital battlefield. By accepting commands in digital forms, unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs) can produce exact replicas of maps, while their reports come back as digital messages or digitised images.
Moreover, while a small manned vehicle bouncing over rough terrain can provide some images from its on-board camera; autonomous vehicles are capable of operating for much longer periods than a crewed system. Hence, for UGVs performing an overwatch or artificial guard missions, endurance can be measured in days or weeks instead of hours.
Unmanned vehicles can be built smaller than any other vehicle, requiring the inclusion of a crew compartment. UGVs can also be unusually shaped, enabling them more access than a manned vehicle in order to hide in smaller sites where they are harder to see and hit.
Last month we discussed the UGV modernisation-taking place in Australia, Belarus, Estonia, Canada, France, Germany, Netherlands and Norway. In this article, we will look at ongoing UGV modernisation plans in four other major countries.
United Kingdom
As part of the U.K.’s £160 million transformation fund, the Ministry of Defence (MOD) has allocated £66 million in funding to accelerate robotic projects for the British Army. Launched in April 2019, the MOD’s Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA) is a single-phase £1.8 million competition for the development of semi-autonomous forward reconnaissance systems controlled from manned mobile assets classed as Manned-Unmanned Teaming (MUM-T).
DASA is looking for ground-to-ground, air-to-air and ground-to-air systems controlled by a single user working in a mobile ground or air platform. DASA has set out the following challenges, of which bidders must address at least one:
Challenge 1: An unmanned system capable of semi-autonomous operation
Challenge 2: A system deployable by a suitable armoured vehicle
Challenge 3: A system featuring an appropriate operator interface
When the proposed solutions are demonstrated in a field trial at Army Warfighting Experiment in March 2020, DASA expects the MUM-T systems to be innovative and fall between technology readiness levels 4-6. DASA will accept proposals from academia, SMEs and large companies coming from both the U.K. and overseas.
The UK Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL) has down-selected the QinetiQ-led team’s first-of-its-kind TITAN for the Autonomous Last Mile Resupply competition. As a modular, hybrid, unmanned ground vehicle that provides soldier safety and support for small military dismounted operations, the TITAN aims to deliver vital supplies safely and reliably to the front line.
TITAN is a large UGV providing “lighten-the-load” support for small dismounted military operations. Developed by QinetiQ North America and Milrem Robotics, TITAN features a multi-mission, reconfigurable platform to enhance unit effectiveness while increasing soldier safety.
Unlike existing UGVs, TITAN’s highly modular platform enables different superstructures to be integrated onto the middle vehicular platform for complex rescue, transport and reconnaissance missions. The flexibility and versatile nature of the system not only increases efficiency, but significantly reduces life cycle costs and soldier workload.
The British Army has received the first four T7 UGV, manufactured by Harris Corporation under a £55 million deal for a total of 56 under Project Starter. The robots feature lightning-fast datalinks, high-definition cameras, an adjustable manipulation arm and counter-EOD capability.
DSTL and the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command’s Ground Vehicle Systems Centre have conducted a joint experiment to test UGVs involving a convoy of autonomous vehicles led by a semi-autonomous lead vehicle following human-dictated waypoints. The experiment’s aim was to test the vehicles’ capabilities for logistics and resupply purposes, being the result of a three-year cooperation between the two nations.
Russia
Developed by the Ryasan-based Design Bureau Aurora, Russia’s Airborne Forces (VDV) are trialling the MARS A-800 logistics UGV designed to transport up to six fully equipped soldiers and offers battlefield support to an airborne motor rifle squad. It can operate at temperatures between -40°C and +40°C and be remotely controlled via radio channel.
The MARS A-800 (Mobile Autonomous Robotic System) tracked Unmanned Ground Vehicle was presented for the first time at the Skolkovo Foundation stand of the RAE-2015 exhibition. Carrying up to six people and transporting cargos including ammunition, MARS A-800 is designed to support infantry and carry out transport, logistics and other missions equipped with various special equipment and weapons.
MARS A-800 has been created on the Russian manufactured tracked floating chassis to supply a platform with an engine capacity of 65 hp, enabling speeds of 35 km/h and carrying up to 500 kg of payload. Although the power reserve is a standard 200 km, if the fuel tank is equipped with increased capacity, it may increase to 500 km.
Moreover, the UGV can be dropped with a parachute system. The built-in generator can also supply power to a camp or recharge the batteries of special equipment.
Having completed field trials, the latest modular Kaptain robotic complex UGV is being delivered to Russian military engineers. Carrying dismountable reconnaissance and engineering equipment, the robot resembles a miniature tracked half-a-metre-high tank and with the controls and batteries inside, the hull has a docking unit for quick replacement and can be rearmed in seconds.
Moving away from the control panel on open terrain to a distance of one kilometre and up to 500 metres in cities and caves, the Kaptain complex has dismountable modules for audio and visual reconnaissance of the terrain, with powerful optical devices operating in visual and infrared modes. The cameras have additional 40-zoom lenses, helping the Kaptain inspect premises, basements, caves, shelters and look under an automobile or armour in any light.
The robot has a five-stage manipulator to clear explosive devices, lifting and moving mines and other cargoes of up to 7 kg, while the manipulator sweeps detachable sensors and makes passes in anti-personnel minefields, with one battery charging allowing operation for six hours without restrictions in mobility and manipulator operation. Kapitan has wireless control, although an optic fibre of up to 200 metres can be used for commands, with the robot enjoying a maximum speed of 5.5 km/h on moderate cross-country terrain.
Another UGV generating much interest is the Marker. Video footage of the Russia’s new combat-capable Marker UGV, a joint project between the Foundation for Advanced Studies and the NGO ‘Android Technology’, emerged in early February 2019.
The Marker can be remotely controlled or work in tandem with a soldier, having been designed with open information architecture. Equipped with a Remote Weapon Station (RWS) and armed with a Kalashnikov machine gun (MG) with sensors and optics fitted to the front and top of the turret structure, this vehicle has two anti-tank guided missiles (ATGMs) mounted opposite the MG.
The Russian MOD has also announced that it is to receive 12 updated Uran-6 multi-purpose mine clearance UGV from late January 2020. Their improved minesweeping speed will clear mines or explosive ordnance equal to 4kg or double the original tolerance.
Serbia
Serbia’s Military Technical Institute has announced trials for its Milos UGV at the Serbian Technical Test Centre. Functional at a maximum distance of 1 km from its operator, Milos will meet the requirements of the Serbian armed forces for special forces and reconnaissance troop support, especially in counter-terror operations in urban and indoor environments.
The Milos premiered at the Partner 2017 exhibition armed with a Serbian M86 machine gun of 7.62 mm calibre and an automatic RBG grenade launcher of 40 mm or 6 M-11. The machine gun provides a maximum effective range of up to 800 m, with the grenade launcher hitting targets at a distance of 400 m.
The Milo’s sensor unit is mounted on the right side of the weapon to include a CCD (charge-coupled device) camera with a wide field of view, a daytime low-level CCD camera, a night thermal imaging camera and a laser rangefinder. The weapon station has a 360° traverse with a maximum speed of 20°/s and vertical guidance ranging from -5° to 45° at speeds up to 10°/s, while MTI reports that the UGV can be driven at a maximum speed of up to 7 km/h.
Milos is equipped with steel tracks, but with a tested option on rubber tracks. Milos has a total weight of 620 kg, with built-in batteries providing power for one hour of continuous operation.
To improve mobility, Milos can rotate around its axis in a feature designed to increase efficiency within a confined space; that is, with a platform of a total length of 1725 mm, width of 770 mm and height of 950 mm. Milos is usually transported in a trailer equipped with loading ramps, while the operator control station is located inside the machine, so towing the trailer.
Milos is typically designed to conduct reconnaissance of the battlefield but can be used as an anti-tank weapon by replacing the combat module with the ATGM. Several pre-production vehicles have been manufactured from prototypes, featuring improvements such as ballistic protection and sensor pods fitted above the weapon and able to move in tandem with the weapons.
United States
The U.S. Army recently released a request for product proposals for its light and medium Robotic Combat Vehicle (RCV) requirement.
One company will be awarded one contract to manufacture a light variant (10 tonnes), while another company will be awarded a further contract for the medium variant (12 tonnes) in March 2020. Each bidder will supply four prototypes for evaluation and testing purposes in the 12 months from the contract award.
The U.S. Army completed a major experiment with the 20 tonne heavyweight variant last month with four robotic versions of the M113 APC evaluated for ground robotic capabilities, remotely controlled by soldiers. The next stage of testing will be a fight against a live opposing force in March 2020.
Once completed, the Army intends to evaluate four RCVs from each weight class, forming a company and conducting tactical formations. The U.S. Army intends to award two contracts for a middle-tier acquisition (rapid prototyping) effort phase pencilled in for spring 2020 with the construction of 14 prototypes.
Companies can still present their own prototypes without Army funding but once the MTA-RP phase is completed, the Army intends to publish a second competition for Low-Rate Initial Production. The production contract for the OMFV will be awarded in fiscal year 2023.
The U.S. Army’s Tank Automotive Research, Development and Engineering Centre have selected Lockheed Martin as the Integrated Systems Developer for its Expedient Leader Follower programme in the first phase of the Automated Ground Resupply project to equip existing military ground vehicles with scalable robotic technology. A human soldier will drive the lead vehicle followed by a convoy of nine autonomous vehicles.
The American manufacturer will lead a three-year effort to develop, integrate and test unmanned prototype systems. Troops will undergo operational technology demonstrations using the prototypes in an asymmetric threat environment, helping create operating procedures and design future programmes of record.
Lockheed Martin will coordinate numerous systems and vendors to achieve a reliable autonomous technology supporting warfighters in complex environments via existing ground vehicles integrating modular kits, open architecture and common interfaces. A large-scale demonstration will take place in 2020, where 60 Oshkosh M1075 PLS vehicles will be fitted with Robotic Research’s LLC computer brains and sensors to equip two Army transportation companies.
The Army Research Laboratory is currently working on a near-fully autonomous unit called the Legged Locomotion and Movement Adaptation (LLAMA) robot taking commands from soldiers, as military dogs do. This project began two years ago through the Robotics Collaborative Technology Alliance programme.
Following successful tests of Squad Multi-Purpose Equipment Transport (SMET) vehicles with the 10th Mountain and 101st Airborne divisions, the U.S. Army intends to field remote-controlled robotic vehicles by this year. The following vehicles are designed to lighten the war fighters’ load by transporting weapons and supplies in the field, boasting a capacity of 1,000 pounds for 60 miles in 72 hours.
-MRZR-X system from Polaris Industries Inc., Applied Research Associates Inc. and NeyaSystems LLC
-The Multi-Utility Tactical Transport (MUTT) from General Dynamics Land Systems
-The Hunter Wolf from HDT Global
-The RS2-H1 system from Howe and Howe Technologies
MRZR X: The MRZR X provides warfighters with a modular support platform in the following operational modes: traditional operator driving; multiple autonomy modes; capability for remote control; teleoperation; follow-me; leader-follower; and full autonomy. The MRZR X can hence enhance and evolve mobility as a robotic equipment mule, a warfighter-driven squad carrier and a logistics support vehicle for rescue missions or high-speed casualty evacuation, and acting in the future as a networked node in the multi-domain battlespace.
MUTT: The MUTT is a rugged, reliable small-unit robotic force multiplier providing increased persistence, protection and projection, so lightening the load throughout the full gamut of combat operations. This remote-controlled or teleoperated teammate now provides MUM-T 1.0 capability against increased projection of combat power, engineered to accommodate new payloads or controllers and increased levels of autonomy.
Hunter WOLF: The HDT Hunter WOLF for RCV-L is a rugged 6×6 all-terrain robotic vehicle with 130 peak horsepower and a top speed of 25 mph, operating for over 72 hours without resupply and featuring an internal 20 kW generator that can export up to 15 kW of power. Closely matching infantry mobility, the Hunter WOLF can climb a 60 per cent grade and traverse narrow trails, steep slopes and dense jungles, while the vehicle’s JP-8 / electric hybrid powertrain provides both a “silent drive” and “silent watch” capability. As of October 2019, HDT Expeditionary Systems, Inc. is one of four candidates to move to the next phase of this U.S. Army programme.
RS2-H1 system from Howe and Howe Technologies: RS2-H1 is a high torque, hybrid diesel-electric drive, tracked vehicle operating in the toughest of terrains with unprecedented endurance, reliability and mobility. It has a zero-turn radius for manoeuvring through complex and confined locations, while the modular design of this system and its low-profile base platform allows integration of numerous mission packages, including an improvised explosive device defeat rake, counter unmanned aircraft systems, remote weapons systems and "follow-me" autonomous control. In offloading up to 4 kilowatts of power for mission critical equipment, this platform provides unmatched versatility and dependability to soldiers where they need it.
The U.S. Army has selected QinetiQ North America as the winner of the Common Robotic System-Individual (CRS(I)) programme, a system enabling dismounted forces to provide capability for lower-level Reconnaissance, Surveillance and Target Acquisition in order to enhance manoeuvres and force protection. The seven-year, US$164 million contract includes a low-rate initial production phase followed by annual production releases.
The first US$4 million order requires QinetiQ to produce up to 3,000 robots, which will be fitted with mission modules and advanced sensors to support dismounted soldiers, alongside an open architecture to support various payloads and missions detecting, identifying and countering threats. The first CRS(I) systems are scheduled to be fielded during fiscal year 2020.
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