Micro Systems, a Kratoscompany based in Fort Walton Beach, FL/USA, recently demonstrated its new command and control (C2) system that is capable of controlling air, ground and unmanned surface vehicles (USV) from a single station, as well as an applique kit that can convert manned ground vehicles into remotely operated systems.
The US Army Target Management Office (TMO) initiated the expo in support of their Army Ground and Aerial Target Control System and Tri-Service and Industry Aerial Demonstration programmes. Visitors from the TMO as well as various governmental and industry organisations interested in the technology attended the event.
Attendees were able to get up close to a number of static aerial, ground, and sea surface vehicles — including the MQM-178 FIREJET, built by CEi, sister company of Micro Systems — but the highlight of the day were the live demonstrations.
The live demonstrations consisted of the Micro Systems’ Universal Command and Control system remotely controlling four different ground vehicles that had been converted from standard manned vehicles into unmanned systems using a vehicle appliqué kit integrated by Micro Systems’ engineers. Additionally, the engines of an unmanned sea surface vehicle, known as a High Speed Maneuverable Seaborne Target in the US Navy, were powered on and controlled to display the versatility of the Universal C2 for multiple platforms.
The systems that were displayed and demonstrated are actively used to support advanced training and weapon evaluation missions for all branches of the US Armed Forces and allied countries worldwide.
It also supports different data link options including UHF FM, L-Band Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum, 2.4 Giga-hertz ISM, Iridium Satellite, and custom data links. The system is adaptable to a variety of unmanned vehicle applications and currently supports missions for the US Navy’s System for Naval Target Control and US Army’s Army Ground and Aerial Target Control System and Tri-Service and Industry Aerial Demonstration, as well as several international defense organizations.
The demonstration vehicles included a High Mobility Maneuverable Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV), 2.5t Light Medium Tactical Vehicle, a commercial Nissan FRONTIER pickup, and a John Deere GATOR all-terrain vehicle (ATV) that Micro Systems converted into unmanned systems using their vehicle appliqué kit.
Once the kit is installed the vehicle can be driven normally with a human driver, teleoperated using the Universal C2, or fully autonomous using path following. An advanced sensor package that includes components such as radar, lidar and a full GPS/INS system can also be integrated for high-precision autonomous mission support. The kit takes four hours or less to install and can be uninstalled from one vehicle and reinstalled on another.
The vehicles were controlled on a closed course at the Micro Systems facility in teleoperational mode using the Universal C2 from inside a transportable shelter. Operators issued commands and received telemetry and position data as they drove the vehicles several laps around the course.
Spectators watched as the unmanned vehicles maneuvered the course and were also able to view video screens displaying the operators controlling the vehicles from inside the shelter. Additionally, video cameras mounted inside the vehicles transmitted a live video feed that could also be seen from monitors set up near the command shelters.
During the demonstration, the vehicles were controlled one at a time due to the limited size of the closed course and the close proximity of the spectators. On the following day a private demonstration was successfully conducted as a proof-of-concept with three-vehicles in a convoy configuration using the HUMVEE, Light Tactical Vehicle and Nissan truck.
Future demonstrations are planned for semi-autonomous operations using path following methods, full autonomous operation using the advanced sensor kit, and formation, swarm, and coordinated time of arrival operations.
These training missions are critical for proper preparation of soldiers to familiarise themselves with the sophisticated equipment they use on a daily basis and the Universal C2 allows for multi-service support of air, land and sea surface vehicles.
Additionally, the vehicle appliqué systems used to convert standard manned vehicles into unmanned systems are also a cost-effective means of reallocating aging military assets that might otherwise have ended up in a scrapyard.
The US Army Target Management Office (TMO) initiated the expo in support of their Army Ground and Aerial Target Control System and Tri-Service and Industry Aerial Demonstration programmes. Visitors from the TMO as well as various governmental and industry organisations interested in the technology attended the event.
Attendees were able to get up close to a number of static aerial, ground, and sea surface vehicles — including the MQM-178 FIREJET, built by CEi, sister company of Micro Systems — but the highlight of the day were the live demonstrations.
The live demonstrations consisted of the Micro Systems’ Universal Command and Control system remotely controlling four different ground vehicles that had been converted from standard manned vehicles into unmanned systems using a vehicle appliqué kit integrated by Micro Systems’ engineers. Additionally, the engines of an unmanned sea surface vehicle, known as a High Speed Maneuverable Seaborne Target in the US Navy, were powered on and controlled to display the versatility of the Universal C2 for multiple platforms.
The systems that were displayed and demonstrated are actively used to support advanced training and weapon evaluation missions for all branches of the US Armed Forces and allied countries worldwide.
Universal C2
The Universal C2, designed by Micro Systems, is a robust and flexible system that supports air, land, and sea surface vehicle platforms. It can be configured to control a maximum of eight jet powered air vehicles, one rotary winged aircraft, forty seaborne vehicle, forty ground vehicles and a minimum of any single vehicle type or any combination of up to the maximum. The Universal C2 is field expandable via plug-and-play interface with no software changes necessary.It also supports different data link options including UHF FM, L-Band Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum, 2.4 Giga-hertz ISM, Iridium Satellite, and custom data links. The system is adaptable to a variety of unmanned vehicle applications and currently supports missions for the US Navy’s System for Naval Target Control and US Army’s Army Ground and Aerial Target Control System and Tri-Service and Industry Aerial Demonstration, as well as several international defense organizations.
The demonstration vehicles included a High Mobility Maneuverable Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV), 2.5t Light Medium Tactical Vehicle, a commercial Nissan FRONTIER pickup, and a John Deere GATOR all-terrain vehicle (ATV) that Micro Systems converted into unmanned systems using their vehicle appliqué kit.
Once the kit is installed the vehicle can be driven normally with a human driver, teleoperated using the Universal C2, or fully autonomous using path following. An advanced sensor package that includes components such as radar, lidar and a full GPS/INS system can also be integrated for high-precision autonomous mission support. The kit takes four hours or less to install and can be uninstalled from one vehicle and reinstalled on another.
The vehicles were controlled on a closed course at the Micro Systems facility in teleoperational mode using the Universal C2 from inside a transportable shelter. Operators issued commands and received telemetry and position data as they drove the vehicles several laps around the course.
Spectators watched as the unmanned vehicles maneuvered the course and were also able to view video screens displaying the operators controlling the vehicles from inside the shelter. Additionally, video cameras mounted inside the vehicles transmitted a live video feed that could also be seen from monitors set up near the command shelters.
During the demonstration, the vehicles were controlled one at a time due to the limited size of the closed course and the close proximity of the spectators. On the following day a private demonstration was successfully conducted as a proof-of-concept with three-vehicles in a convoy configuration using the HUMVEE, Light Tactical Vehicle and Nissan truck.
Future demonstrations are planned for semi-autonomous operations using path following methods, full autonomous operation using the advanced sensor kit, and formation, swarm, and coordinated time of arrival operations.
Advanced Training Need
The demonstration was an important step to fulfilling the US Army TMO’s need for advanced test and training mission requirements.These training missions are critical for proper preparation of soldiers to familiarise themselves with the sophisticated equipment they use on a daily basis and the Universal C2 allows for multi-service support of air, land and sea surface vehicles.
Additionally, the vehicle appliqué systems used to convert standard manned vehicles into unmanned systems are also a cost-effective means of reallocating aging military assets that might otherwise have ended up in a scrapyard.