Robot Pair Conduct First Fully Autonomous Mission

K-MAX, SMSS pair conduct resupply, ISR mission

By Chuck Oldham (Editor) - August 19, 2014

A K-MAX unmanned helicopter delivers an SMSS unmanned vehicle by sling load during a mission demonstration of paired autonomous unmanned vehicles. Lockheed Martin photo

A Lockheed Martin/Kaman K-MAX unmanned helicopter delivered a Squad Mission Support System (SMSS) unmanned ground vehicle by sling load to conduct an autonomous resupply mission scenario for soldiers defending a village. After completing the resupply mission, the SMSS proceeded to an observation point where it raised its Gyrocam sensor and began scanning the area for enemy forces.

“Fully autonomous capabilities as we’ve just demonstrated will allow service members to focus on important missions and remain out of harm’s way,” said Scott Greene, vice president of Ground Vehicles for Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control. “This successful demonstration with both unmanned air and ground vehicles shows us that these missions are not only possible, but can be available much sooner than you would expect.”

SMSS shown with SATCOM equipment and Gyrocam. Lockheed Martin photo

“The synergistic use of unmanned air and ground vehicles will give warfighters a larger operational reach, and allow execution of missions that are currently performed at great risk to the warfighter,” said Dr. Paul Rogers, TARDEC director.

In 2011, K-MAX became the first unmanned aircraft system to deliver cargo in-theater for the U.S. Marine Corps. The demonstration showed that vertical unmanned resupply missions could reduce the number of truck resupply convoys, which were frequent targets of improvised explosive devices and insurgent attacks.

Manufactured by Kaman Aerospace Corporation and outfitted with its mission package of systems and sensors, the heavy-lifting K-MAX unmanned system is a transformational technology that can lift 6,000 pounds of cargo at sea level. Capable of flying delivery missions day and night, K-MAX can reach remote locations without risking a life.

“This demonstration signifies another use for robots and this brings us closer to the pinnacle of how we use unmanned systems,” said Dan Spoor, vice president of Aviation and Unmanned Systems at Lockheed Martin’s Mission Systems and Training business. “There is significant potential for these types of systems for humanitarian aid, the civilian oil and gas industry, firefighting and for other military applications.”

During the test, the Gyrocam 9-inch, mid-wave surveillance sensor provided constant video surveillance during each phase of the mission, including while in flight. The elevated system scanned for threats and provided geo-location coordinates of hostile personnel for indirect-fire missions.

Both SMSS and K-MAX were equipped with mobile Satellite Communications (SATCOM) systems as well as local line-of-sight communications systems. A remote operations center equipped with SATCOM controlled and monitored the vehicles’ activities throughout the demonstration.