Remote Munitions Deployment from an Unmanned Ground Vehicle

Unmanned Ground Vehicle’s (UGV) are becoming more adapted and have increased mission capabilities to support Warfighter ground forces. Researchers develop and enhance unmanned ground vehicles to better aid Warfighters and increase their mission capabilities while mitigating their risk. High risk missions are often performed for infiltration of potential hazardous points of interests that contain anti-personnel obstacles. Ground forces have traditionally utilized live munitions to quickly create a footpath through these anti-personnel obstacles. These munitions often require personnel to be exposed to enemy detection/fire during placement. This paper presents the development of an UGV remote deployment system to mitigate Warfighters risk by generating a stand-off distance between the obstacle(s) and the ground forces. The stand-off distance enables ground forces to stage, arm, and deploy the munitions from a covered/concealed position. Solutions that encompass low cost, rapid fielding, high mobility and durability, munitions accuracy, and leverage of existing fielded equipment have been considered. This paper discusses the deployment system development, integration with the UGV, and the proof of concept testing results. INTRODUCTION Warfare has tremendously evolved since September 11, 2001. Our Army has had to adapt to the always changing battlefields and threats through the use of technology. Our nation’s Warfighters have had to continually evolve and adapt their methodologies and concept of operations over the years due to increasing threats. This has caused them to turn to technology to increase their mission performances and mitigate risk. Through research and development, Unmanned Ground Vehicles (UGV) have become more adapted into the Warfighters concept of operations and are now readily available for use. Unmanned systems are often utilized for high risk missions, which may include infiltration of potential points of interests that contain antipersonnel obstacles. Traditionally, ground forces have employed live munitions to create a footpath through these anti-personnel obstacles. The emplacement of breaching munitions is a high-risk, but high payoff mission, potentially exposing Warfighters to enemy fire during setup and execution of the mission. A safer method for obstacle breaching is highly desired. For this reason, this paper will present research, development, and testing results that have been conducted in an effort to integrate live munitions with UGV platforms. The implementation of UGVs with live munitions in current mission operations mitigates mission risk by generating an increased stand-off distance between the ground forces at the hazardous point of interest. This paper will also discuss the live munitions deployment systems that have been integrated into UGVs. UGV-MOUNTED MUNITIONS DEPLOYMENT Researchers initially reviewed and implemented a commonly used munitions system package which was mounted onto a medium class robotic platform. The munitions system used was the Anti-Personnel Obstacle Breaching System (APOBS), an explosive line charge system that allows safe breaching through complex antipersonnel obstacles, particularly fields of land mines. The APOBS weighs approximately 125lbs and is designed to be transported and deployed by hand from ground forces without the use of any vehicle, deployment, or targeting/tracking systems. It has been desired to provide a method to deploy theses munitions from a concealed standoff position. To minimize injury to the Warfighter and Report Documentation Page Form Approved