With Soldiers facing increasingly sophisticated and complex threats, Army scientists and engineers are developing capabilities to enable persistent ground situational awareness for maximum force protection. The Army\u2019s Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Cyber, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (C5ISR) Center leads the Ground-based Multi-Mission Payload project.<\/p>\n

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Breaching minefields has historically been one of the most dangerous tasks for troops. By automating the monotonous and fatiguing task of manual threat scanning, Soldiers can focus their attention on the broader tactical environment while easing the cognitive load. While unmanned aerial systems can cover wide areas, ground systems remain essential to detect threats aerial assets can\u2019t see.<\/p>\n

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\u201cOur S&T and technical expertise across core competencies including advanced sensing, intelligence, and command and control are delivering critical advantages for our Soldiers \u2014 situational awareness, enhanced operational speed, and safety,\u201d said C5ISR Center Director Beth Ferry.<\/p>\n

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The GMMP proof-of-concept prototype includes a suite of hardware and AI-enabled software with advanced sensors, which have been outfitted onto a variety of ground vehicles and robotic platforms: a specially equipped military vehicle; a robot dog; and a Squad Multipurpose Equipment Transport, an unmanned, eight-wheeled heavy-duty robotic platform with instruments to complete multiple threat removal and complex mission sets, according to C5ISR Center physicist Kendall Johnson, the project\u2019s technical lead.<\/p>\n

An AI model detects, classifies, and reports explosive threats in real-time, integrating seamlessly into the Tactical Assault Kit ecosystem that populates a common operating picture for the entire team, both inside the vehicles and in the command post. Soldiers can identify hazards from a safe standoff distance, turning hours of manual scanning into a millisecond-fast automated process.<\/p>\n

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\u201cThe system incorporates a government-developed and -owned open AI architecture built by Army subject-matter experts,\u201d Johnson said of the project\u2019s plans for multi-algorithm support. \u201cThe Army can add the best algorithms from any source, at any time. The concept remains relevant into the future with the ability to incorporate new technologies as they emerge.\u201d<\/p>\n

C5ISR Center Countermine Ground to Ground Portfolio lead Dr. Amin Abbasi Baghbadorani said another project goal is transitioning from current counter-explosive systems that are often built with proprietary software and hardware while limited to a single purpose.<\/p>\n

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\u201cGMMP is based on a modular concept to integrate commercial off-the-shelf hardware,\u201d Abbasi Baghbadorani said. \u201cIts open architecture is designed for rapid adaptation to new vehicles, sensors, and AI algorithms. The capabilities can be used with any platform and are easy to transition.\u201d<\/p>\n

Working with noncommissioned officers assigned to the Center is critical to providing Soldiers with the best tools for lethality and survivability, Johnson said.<\/p>\n

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\u201cFeedback from NCOs has been incredible as we get feedback on-site,\u201d Johnson said. \u201cWe\u2019re able to make changes the same day and update the systems. It\u2019s optimized the speed and pace of our project.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sgt. 1st Class Michael Havens, a C5ISR Center enlisted adviser, is working with the project\u2019s scientists and engineers to bring his operational expertise as a network communication systems specialist into the technology development cycle.<\/p>\n

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\u201cThere\u2019s an instant feedback loop,\u201d Havens said. \u201cWhat we do as enlisted Soldiers for C5ISR Center is they will give us their technology, show us how operate it, and run us through scenarios. We\u2019ll tell them how to design the system to make it easier to use, more functional. Situational awareness is key. The more you have SA of the battlefield, the more you can devise a plan to execute, navigate, and negotiate.\u201d<\/p>\n

The GMMP team\u2019s next steps are to mature the prototype into a cross-platform demonstrator with activities planned in additional climates and locations in the near future. It\u2019s imperative the system performs across the wide range of conditions Soldiers face \u2014 extreme temperatures and humidity, sand, dust, foliage, snow, ice, and varying grass and soil types.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe focus is adapting the system to more complex environments to prove its end-to-end capability,\u201d Abbasi Baghbadorani said.<\/p>\n

By Dan Lafontaine, DEVCOM C5ISR Center Public Affairs<\/em><\/p>\n

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