RMD SYSTEMS LLC — Department of Defense SBIR Phase II: A19-D01

Description

A unmanned, autonomous legged vehicle is proposed as a tactical last mile delivery platform to ferry artillery shells, powder charges and fuses from the support vehicle to the gun line. The legged vehicle performs its mission with minimal operator input, with the vehicle autonomously navigating, delivering the payload, and returning without operator intervention. Legged vehicles have the potential to offer superior performance to wheeled and tracked vehicles when used on unstructured terrain. A legged vehicle can cross larger obstacles, ford deeper water, and isolate the body and payload from shock and accelerations caused by crossing terrain. The sensors embedded in the legs of the vehicle allow for enhanced sensing of the terrain, and allow the vehicle to demonstrate robust offroad performance without the reliance on external sensors that can become obscured by smoke, dirt, or darkness. The proposed vehicle leverages its legged architecture to perform automated loading and unloading routines from transport and storage. The legged vehicle can be carried internally or externally on a variety of platforms, eliminating the need for dedicated support equipment. Line replaceable actuators, sensors, and cabling reduce the maintenance requirements of the system. A common leg design with modular construction further reduces the logistical footprint.