Applied Perception is engaged in DoD programs to develop technologies to enable collaborative operations between multiple Unmanned Ground Vehicles (UGVs) and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs). Our focus has been on the command and control side, to enable operators to easily task and assign multiple vehicles to achieve a common purpose.

As part of this effort, we have created a centralized mission planning module in our existing Soldier Universal Robot Controller (SURC) Operator Control Unit (OCU). The mission planning module takes into consideration the environment and specific capabilities of each individual unmanned system by querying it for its capabilities. These features are demonstrated through the implementation of three collaborative missions related to surveillance/reconnaissance. These missions consist of Multiple UxV Reconnaissance, Multiple UxV Surveillance and UGV/UAV Persistent Surveillance.

To facilitate this work, Applied Perception has procured two Rotomotion SR20 UAVs and has made modifications to enable them to function in a JAUS-based environment and provide an aerial JAUS-based video feed. These UAVs have been successfully utilized in UAV/UGV collaborative mission operations.