Integrated Solutions for Systems, Inc. — Department of Defense SBIR Phase II: A18-155

Description

Unmanned systems provide significant advantages in areas such as intelligence, logistics, stand-off capability, and route-clearance/IED defeat. Although available technology has advanced greatly in the last decade, there are still many obstacles to widely deploying autonomous ground systems. Cost, robustness, and trust are major factors slowing the development of fully autonomous ground vehicles. Commercial, off-the-shelf (COTS) drive-by-wire kits offer a low-cost means to provide tele-operational or autonomous capability on existing vehicles. The lower-cost and relative ease of implementation do come with a larger set of potential limitations, such as reduced control authority, increased latency, errant or non-compliant messages, and reduced security and safety. Emergency stop systems that bring the unmanned systems to a halt are even more necessary to ensure control over the platform with these increased limitations. However, emergency stop maneuvers can lead to instability or compound already unstable behavior. Integrated Solutions for Systems, Inc. (IS4S) along with Auburn University’s GPS and Vehicle Dynamics Lab (AU-Gavlab) propose an intelligent urgent stop system that will maintain vehicle stability and improve operational safety of unmanned systems.