US Army adopts new breed of robotic battle vehicles
Created by Lockheed Martin, the Squad Mission Support System (SMSS) is “the largest autonomous vehicle to ever be deployed with infantry,” said Lockheed in announcement released today.
The Lockheed Martin SMSS leverages robotic technologies for unmanned transport and logistical support for light, early entry and special operations forces. It solves capability gaps by lightening the Soldier’s load and serving as a power management resource.
The SMSS will decrease the amount of time a Warfighter has to spend in controlling robotic systems by providing vehicles that can navigate autonomously. The SMSS’ supervised autonomy will provide the Warfighter with a reliable squad-size vehicle which will improve combat readiness, while assuring re-supply channels and casualty evacuations.
Combining perception with extraordinary mobility allows vehicles to follow the Warfighter across most terrain, guaranteeing the payload the robotic system is carrying will be available whenever and wherever the Warfighter needs it. Few other robotic systems allow for autonomy dependable enough for a vehicle to follow someone without the use of location-disclosing beacons. The vehicle can also operate by remote control, tele-operation or by manual control.
User-proven autonomy
SMSS is executing a contract for the U.S. Army to provide the SMSS as a portable power solution complementing the NettWarrior Soldier technology package. SMSS provided self-sustaining portable power, Soldier battery recharge and logistics support for infantry during user testing in November, 2010.
The system’s dependable autonomous technology has garnered three safety releases by the U.S. Army to work in close proximity around Soldiers. SMSS continues to log hundreds of hours with Army users as the system matures and is prepared for deployment:
- Army Expeditionary Warrior Experiment, Spiral E, 2008
- Military Utility Assessment, Fort Benning, 2009
- Limited User Test – Portable Power, Ft. Riley, 2010
- Army Expeditionary Warrior Experiment, Spiral G, 2011
- Military Utility Assessment, Afghanistan, 2011 (anticipated)
Unmanned capabilities
The long-term vision of this system can accommodate armed variants, while improving its reconnaissance, surveillance and target acquisition capabilities within the concept of supervised autonomy. A squad-size manned or unmanned support vehicle is critical to today’s asymmetrical and urban battlefields.
Lockheed Martin’s experience in unmanned systems is unmatched with proven capabilities across all domains including air, land, sea and space. An integrated systems-of-systems approach allows Lockheed Martin to meet the challenges of network-centric warfare where both manned and unmanned technologies work collaboratively, increasing the affordability of the technology, the efficiency of the total force and ultimately, the success of their missions.
