for engineer, CBRN and EOD units in FY19.


Part of the MTRS robot’s inner work- ings is the Army’s Unmanned Ground Vehicle Interoperability Profile. Akin to the operating system on a smartphone, it is an architecture that governs how the various parts of the robot communicate with one another and how the robot communicates with external command- and-control systems. In the same way that a new app can be downloaded to a smartphone, the interoperability profile makes it possible to apply new payloads or functional tools to the robot.


Te profile is also an open system;


because the government owns the stan- dards, rather than any one company, it should be easier for Army robots to change and adapt with technology, rather than the Army needing to buy a whole new platform when robotics technology inevitably advances. Should the soft- ware that processes the images a robot captures improve, old software can be swapped out and new software uploaded, so Soldiers can take advantage of the bet- ter version sooner.


Te Common Robotic System (Individ- ual) and (Heavy) round out the planned trio of interoperable robotic platforms; they also will run with the Unmanned Ground Vehicle Interoperability Pro- file. Te individual model will top out at 25 pounds; it is designed so that a Sol- dier can transport it in a pack and fit it for different missions while in the field. Teoretically, this robot could perform reconnaissance one day, then be reconfig- ured at the post for an EOD mission the next day. Te heavy model, though still in the early stages of acquisition, could reach 1,000 pounds; the ability to dis- arm vehicle-borne IEDs is one desired capability, which requires a robot of sig- nificant size.


DOD is exploring the use of robots in almost


every


tions; the Army’s near-term priorities are to increase situational awareness and lighten the Soldier’s physical and mental load, according to the Army’s Robotic and Autonomous


facet of military opera-


told me something. But I had to go to Fort Leonard Wood [in Missouri] to find out if the technology was really relevant.” Soldiers there had identified a need for what the technology could do.


Parmentola continued: “What always matters is: What is the problem you’re trying to solve? We were trying to solve a specific problem: how to keep Soldiers out of harm’s way while looking for suspicious objects. Define the problem carefully and try to work backward from that, taking into account the operational issues. Most of the time in the Pentagon, I found that people spent the least amount of time defining the problem they’re try- ing to solve.”


For more information on the Army’s planned portfolio of unmanned ground vehicles, go to http://www.peocscss.army.mil/pdmugv. html.


Systems Strategy.


Based on his experience, Parmentola cau- tions that solving those specific problems must remain the focus, despite the allure of the high concept and the cutting edge. “I looked at the technology first, and that


For a historical tour of Army AL&T over the past 56 years, go the Army AL&T maga- zine archives at http://asc.army.mil/web/ magazine/alt-magazine-archive/.


—MS. MARY KATE AYLWARD


COME THIS WAY


Sgt. 1st Class Joshua Tygret, left, and Sgt. Austin Murphy, assigned to 744th Ordnance Disposal Company, 52nd Explosive Ordnance Group, navigate the TALON during the EOD Team of the Year competition in September 2017 at Fort A.P. Hill, Virginia. The weeklong competition, one of three sponsored by the U.S. Army Ordnance Corps, recognizes exceptional expertise among EOD Soldiers and provides senior leaders the opportunity to assess ammunition, maintenance and EOD professionals across the institutional Army and the operational force. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Lance Pounds, 71st Ordnance Group (EOD) Public Affairs)


ASC.ARMY.MIL


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THEN & NOW


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