Northrop Grumman [NOC] is launching an open-architecture swarm of small drones and is inviting third-party participants to test small-unit tactics with the platform designed to rapidly develop technologies through “swarm sprints.”
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) selected Northrop Grumman to participate in the first phase of the OFFensive Swarm-Enabled Tactics (OFFSET) program as a swarm systems integrator.
The company is tasked with designing, developing and deploying a swarm-system, open-based architecture for swarm technologies in both a game-based environment and physical test bed.
“Cognitive autonomy has the potential to transform all defense and security systems. OFFSET will explore a variety of applications in relevant mission scenarios,” said Vern Boyle, vice president, advanced technologies, Northrop Grumman Mission Systems. “We are applying cutting-edge technologies in robotics, robot autonomy, machine learning and swarm control to ultimately enhance our contributions to the warfighter.”
The goal of the OFFSET program is to provide small-unit infantry forces with small unmanned aircraft systems (UASs) or small unmanned ground systems (UGSs) in swarms of 250 or more robots that support diverse missions in complex urban environments. OFFSET seeks to advance the integration of modern swarm tactics and leverage emerging technologies in swarm autonomy and human-swarm teaming.
Northrop is teamed with Intelligent Automation and the Interactive Computing Experiences Research Cluster at the University of Central Florida.
The team also will produce tactics and technologies to test on the architecture and is responsible for engaging a wider development and user audience through rapid technology-development exercises known as “swarm sprints.”
About every six months, DARPA plans to solicit proposals from potential “sprinters” in one of five focus areas: swarm tactics, swarm autonomy, human-swarm teaming, virtual environment and physical test bed.
Participants from academia, small business and large corporations are invited to join in these swarm sprints. Sprinters will work with the integration team to create and test their own novel swarm tactics within the test bed environment. The end of each sprint will coincide with live physical test experiments with DARPA, the systems integrator team and other sprinters.
To participate in Northrop Grumman’s swarm sprints, visit the Swarm Tactics Exchange Portal at http://www.swarmtex.com.