Lockheed Martin [LMT] and the Army’s Tank Automotive Research, Development and Engineering Center (TARDEC) successfully conducted a fully autonomous resupply, reconnaissance, surveillance and target-acquisition (RSTA) demonstration using its K-MAX unmanned helicopter to sling load a Squad Mission Support System (SMSS) unmanned ground vehicle equipped with a Gyrocam 9-inch mid-wave surveillance sensor.

“All systems performed flawlessly,” Jon McMillen, business development manager, aviation and unmanned systems for Lockheed Martin’s Mission Systems and Training said in a roundtable Aug. 18.What was unique, according to McMillen, was that K-MAX moved another robot that would be released autonomously and then move off on other autonomous missions.

Both SMSS and K-MAX were equipped with mobile Satellite Communications (SATCOM) systems. A remote operations center equipped with SATCOM controlled and monitored the vehicles’ activities throughout the demonstration.

Don Nimblett, senior business development manager for unmanned ground vehicles for Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control, said the SMSS also performed flawlessly. While the systems used satellite communications, “if that had failed, for whatever reason, we still had line of sight (systems) to conduct the demonstration with.”

K-MAX Lifts SMSS Photo: Lockheed Martin
K-MAX Lifts SMSS

Photo: Lockheed Martin

During the “Extending the Reach of the Warfighter through Robotics” capability assessment at Fort Benning, Ga., K-MAX delivered SMSS to conduct an autonomous resupply mission scenario for soldiers defending a village. After the resupply mission was completed, SMSS proceeded to an observation point where it raised its Gyrocam sensor and began scanning the area for enemy forces. In an actual mission, if enemy forces were observed, the remote operator would notify the commander on the ground, who would assess the threat and determine the appropriate action.

“Fully autonomous capabilities as we’ve just demonstrated will allow service members to focus on important missions and remain out of harm’s way,” said Scott Greene, vice president of Ground Vehicles for Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control. “This successful demonstration with both unmanned air and ground vehicles shows us that these missions are not only possible, but can be available much sooner than you would expect.”

The autonomous flight also featured the autonomous release of the SMSS, which was then commanded via SATCOM to move to the soldiers to resupply them, Nimblett said.Then it was retasked to conduct surveillance for a company defending a small village.

The resupply used empty cans and boxes, because the demonstration took place on a hot, humid Georgia day, Nimblett said. They wanted to make sure there were no lift issues. A cooler day would present no problems. “Still, 4,500 pounds (the weight of the SMSS) is a significant amount to lift.”

“The synergistic use of unmanned air and ground vehicles will give warfighters a larger operational reach, and allow execution of missions that are currently performed at great risk to the warfighter,” said Paul Rogers, TARDEC director.

In 2011, K-MAX became the first unmanned aircraft system to deliver cargo in-theater for the Marines. As troops were frequent targets of IEDs and insurgent attacks, K-MAX answered the call to reduce the number of truck resupply convoys and their troop escorts to protect soldiers on the ground.

Manufactured by Kaman Aerospace Corp. [KAMN] and outfitted with its mission package of systems and sensors, the K-MAX can lift 6,000 pounds of cargo at sea level. Capable of flying delivery missions day and night, K-MAX can reach remote locations without risking a life.

“This demonstration signifies another use for robots and this brings us closer to the pinnacle of how we use unmanned systems,” said Dan Spoor, vice president of Aviation and Unmanned Systems at Lockheed Martin’s Mission Systems and Training business. “There is significant potential for these types of systems for humanitarian aid, the civilian oil and gas industry, firefighting and for other military applications.”

During the test, the Gyrocam 9-inch, mid-wave surveillance sensor provided constant video surveillance during each phase of the mission, including while in flight. The elevated system scanned for threats and provided geo-location coordinates of hostile personnel for indirect-fire missions.

McMillen said the successful demonstration positions Lockheed Martin for future autonomous military and civilian applications, and there is quite a bit of interest for missions such as firefighting and disaster relief. Taking personnel out of the equation can save lives. K-MAX is used routinely in firefighting, he said, and the company has displayed a variant of SMSS in a firefighting configuration.

Nimblett said SMSS was developed in support of and to pursue Army efforts to develop a program called Squad Multipurpose Equipment Transporter (SMET), where “the role of the vehicle is to do exactly what we’ve done,” support soldiers and lighten their load.

The successful demonstration is an encouraging step forward, he said. “This ability exists today and it could be done.”

The Army is still working on the requirements document, which is expected to be complete within a year, Nimblett said. The plan is to make SMET a program of record and fund it.

McMillan said a number of Army officials attended the demonstration. The demonstration provided a “glimpse” of how autonomy could be used in future missions. Some of the labs and Army offices are incorporating autonomy into future platforms, which could be something like the Joint Multirole helicopter program. Work is being done now on imagining operations going forward.