SBIR-STTR Award

Resilient Autonomous Vehicles Operating in Denied Environments (RAVODE) provides novel autonomy behaviors that are embedded in reusable software modules suitable for loading into autonomous unmanned vehicles based on the CODE software architecture. Once deployed, these software modules provide sustained autonomous unmanned vehicle mission performance by devising effective autonomous decisions in complex, uncertain engagements. RAVODE behaviors are resilient, capable of satisfying mission objectives when equipment and entire vehicles fail and/or when communications and GPS are denied. Phase I RAVODE behaviors include Adaptive k-vehicle NxM mesh communications (AKnmC) and Adaptive k-vehicle RF-geolocation (KvRFG). The AKnmC behavior enables teams of heterogeneous unmanned vehicles to overcome operational challenges by forming a constantly changing mobile ad-hoc network that bridges communications between vehicles tracking targets, mission commanders and weapons platforms. KvRFG enables the autonomous detection, localization and tracking of multiple emitting targets using passive radio-frequency detectors. RAVODE behaviors are provided as FACE units of portability (UoP) that may be easily integrated into autonomous unmanned vehicles using the CODE autonomy architecture. During Phase II RAVODE adds additional perception, behavior and planning UoPs that enable CODE-based autonomous vehicles to support increasingly diverse missions.

Benefit:
RAVODE research will produce autonomy behaviors that enable unmanned vehicles to perform complex tasks in harsh, complex, uncertain operating conditions. RAVODE products are expected to be integrated into future unmanned systems for (1) US military, (2) industrial field robotics conducting mining, harvesting and logging operations, and (3) extraterrestrial robotics conducting exploration and in-situ resource utilization.

Keywords:
Autonomous Systems, Autonomous Systems, Artificial Intelligence, Unmanned Vehicles, Resilience, Fault Tolerance

WGT proposes to develop novel autonomy algorithms that are embedded in reusable software modules suitable for loading into autonomous unmanned vehicles (AUV) based on the CODE software architecture. Once deployed, these software modules enable sustained AUV mission performance by devising effective autonomous decisions in complex, uncertain engagements. WGTs proposed research focuses on autonomy methods that are resilient and capable of satisfying mission objectives when equipment and entire vehicles fail and/or when communications and GPS are denied. WGT is researching highly resilient Communications Relay, Precision Navigation and Timing (PNT), and Adaptive Information Exchange units of portability (UoPs) that enhance both mission effectiveness and system resilience for teams of CODE-enabled unmanned vehicles. During Phase II WGT proposes to mature and expand our UoPs by integrating our technologies with the sensor fusion, search and tracking UoPs to produce and flight test an integrated autonomy mission package. WGT will UoPs necessary for a complete, robust autonomous system for sensor resource management and fusion in denied environments.

Benefit:
WGTs has a three-stage approach to commercializing autonomy units of portability (UoPs) developed under this SBIR within the Navy and the DoD at large. WGT anticipates commercializing our UoPs by: (1) working with DoD stakeholders including NAWC (both AD and WD), NSWC, ARL, TARDEC and AFRL to identify emerging autonomy use-cases and needs and to develop autonomy reasoning components that support these use cases; (2) integrating our autonomy software into the RAIDER infrastructure and, in conjunction with other members of the RAIDER Community of Interest, conduct experiments and demonstrations to establish the effectiveness of our autonomy software in enabling next-generation autonomous systems that satisfy a variety of military use cases, (3) supporting major DoD prime contractors in the incorporation of WGTs autonomy UoPs into advanced prototype AUV systems (6.3/6.4) under ONR INP and FNC, DARPA, AFRL and Special Capabilities Office Efforts; (4) as a subcontractor to major DoD prime contractors integrate products from the SBIR into next generation AUV PoRs managed by stakeholder Program Manager Air (PMA) offices within PEO (U&W) and PEO (T). Target PMAs include PMA 272, PMA 201, PMA 263, PMA 208, PMA 262 and PMA 266.

Keywords:
Robotics, Artificial Intelligence, Unmanned Air Systems, Autonomous Systems