GS ENGINEERING INC — Department of Defense SBIR Phase I: N221-003

Description

As the Marine Corps adapts to Distributed Operations (DO) with small, dispersed fighting units distributed across a large area to create a tactical advantage through separate but coordinated actions, the need for a single platform, Remote Expeditionary Autonomous Pioneer system (REAPr) that can accomplish multiple tasks including material handling, construction, path/trail clearance, explosive hazard defeat capabilities, counter mobility, refueling, fire suppression, and exportable power has been identified. These tasks are currently accomplished using multiple equipment platforms, requiring several operators and maintenance personnel, often working in harm’s way. Accomplishing expeditionary tasks using a flexible, single system design with autonomous operation capability reduces the number of personnel required to complete mission tasks. In addition to the human factor, air and ground transportability of multiple pieces of equipment runs counterintuitive to the small, rapidly deployable units required for DO.   To address this need, GS Engineering will take a systematic approach in development of a REAPr unit that incorporates the multi-use capability of a skid steer for construction, path/trail clearance, and hazard defeat with a rugged forklift for transport of pallets, Quadcon containers, and other supplies. This systematic approach will begin with a requirements definition phase, trade study of existing equipment/attachments, concept generation, and a final down select to a detailed virtual prototype of an optimal expeditionary system capable of remote operation at the conclusion of Phase I. In addition to the base vehicle design, GS Engineering’s solution will develop palletized auxiliary systems for fire suppression, refueling, and payload/debris transport, and design for integration with existing auxiliary remote/autonomous systems. For remote operation capability, GS Engineering will design the base unit for future integration with COTS controls from Bokam, including their Universal Operational Control Unit (OCU) and vehicle master hardware. During the Phase II effort, this system, combined with cameras and other sensors integrated on the REAPr, will be designed for autonomous operation utilizing the Army Robotic Technology Kernel (RTK) and ROS-M to leverage previous and existing government autonomy packages.