Unmanned Ground Military and Construction Systems Technology Gaps Exploration

Abstract

There are found the answers to the scientific question whether it is possible to figure out the methodology to explore technology gaps looking through Operational Requirements (ORs) defined for military systems, to apply it to construction industry applications technology gaps exploration. In this paper were specified the (ORs) that enabled a preliminary analysis on Unmanned Ground Systems (UGSs): which kind of platforms might be developed and shared between the systems devoted to different military and construction industry applications. In this paper are presented technology gaps identified by comparing the ORs with the state of play of technologies that are currently available in the military and construction equipment applications. Then the challenges and measures are identified and associated to the gaps that should be taken in order to bridge each specific gap. There are identified technological and non-technological aspects that may hamper development of UGS solutions that fully achieve the ORs, and thus would need to be further studied and/or elaborated. As a next step actions are specified. They represent the research and development initiatives, steps or activities that should be done in order to be in the position of developing UGS solutions achieving the specified ORs and requirements of construction site. The actions need to be completed to bridge the technology gaps to make required new capabilities available. One of results of such a methodology are schedules based on the roadmap aimed to guide the development of the future UGS solutions towards the achievement of operational and construction site requirements.

Robotic autonomous systems for earthmoving in military applications

“…With intense R&D activities devoted to the areas of multi-agent systems, cyberphysical systems, interconnected systems, coordination and formation control [82], artificial intelligence and robotics [83], the ground-based platforms mentioned will have capabilities to cooperate, via either direct machine-tomachine interaction or human-machine interaction [84], overcoming technology gaps [85], to fully automate military construction tasks. Together with RAS advancements in sensing and navigation and the maturity of monitoring technologies with air-based platforms such as unmanned aerial vehicles, it is predicted that future military construction will mainly rely on hybrid operations.…”

Earthmoving Construction Automation with Military Applications: Past, Present and Future

“…However, the focus therein is mainly on combat and logistic operations rather than construction. Given rapid developments in military construction automation with the use of high-mobility ground-based platforms, human-machine and machinemachine interfaces, teleoperation and control systems, data transmission systems, perception and manipulation capabilities [10], this brief survey aims to provide a comprehensive overview and analysis on the state-of-theart of earthmoving construction automation used for army applications. The objectives will cover construction tasks and corresponding platforms in alignment with defence applications.…”