U.S. Army Awards Robotic Research Major Multi-Year Contract; Valued at up to $50 Million, Contract Expands Work on Autonomous Unmanned Systems Teaming & Collaboration (AUSTC) for the Counter-WMD Mission
CLARKSBURG, Md., Sept. 6, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The U.S. Army's Armament Research, Development and Engineering Center (ARDEC) has awarded Robotic Research, LLC of Maryland a five-year $50 million contract for Autonomous Unmanned Systems Teaming & Collaboration (AUSTC) for the Counter-WMD Mission in challenging subterranean and other environments. The AUSTC effort builds on prior and ongoing Robotic Research, LLC Small Business Innovative Research contracts (also with ARDEC) in support of the Mobile Autonomous Counter-WMD System, Increment B (MACS-B). The MACS-B program provides various subterranean mission objectives such as mapping and reconnaissance; location and characterization of WMD materials, relay of intelligence and situational awareness to ground forces and commanders to make informed decisions in support of military operations; and autonomous teaming and collaborative operations to include unmanned ground and air vehicles.
Under the terms of the contract, Robotic Research will conduct AUSTC technical demonstrations of autonomous unmanned systems sensing technologies and design and develop new and more advanced autonomous unmanned systems sensing technologies, among other tasks. The AUSTC effort is focused on improving autonomy, 3D/4D mapping, localization, target ID, tracking, collective 3D visualization, weapons system integration of Unmanned Autonomous Systems, subterranean communications and more.
Robotic Research, LLC is an innovative minority-owned engineering and technology company that provides autonomy software and robotic technology and solutions to numerous Federal and commercial customers. It currently serves as the autonomy kit provider on the US Army's Expedient Leader Follower program for autonomous convoy operations on Oshkosh Defense PLS vehicles.
Following the award, Alberto Lacaze, President of Robotic Research, stated, "It is a great honor to expand our work for the US Army, the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA), and the Special Forces community on the family-of-systems for autonomous collaborative robotic teaming in support of challenging subterranean missions. The Robotic Research team shares the Army leadership's commitment to rapidly fielding effective autonomous Counter-WMD solutions for our Nation's warfighters."
The Department of Defense takes seriously the continued growth in the number and sophistication of foreign underground facilities that may house weapons of mass destruction. Programs such as AUSTC and MACS-B significantly advance autonomous unmanned systems teaming and collaboration capabilities in subterranean environments for Army and Special Forces units.
For more about Robotic Research, please see www.roboticresearch.com or call Janet Hughes at 240-631-0008. For additional information on ARDEC, please see http://www.ardec.army.mil.
SOURCE Robotic Research, LLC
