SURC - Soldier Universal Robotic Controller

Customer: U.S. Army Research Labs
Role: Prime Contractor
Partners: None
Duration: 6/2005 – 6/2007
Purpose: Soldier Universal Robot Controller for dismounted applications.
Technologies: Multi-modal UI (audio, graphical joystick), XML-based API and architecture, modular front end, tactical, and transport capabilities
Capabilities: Naturalistic C&C of multiple heterogeneous robots
 

Description: Applied Perception has a Phase II SBIR to develop a Soldier Universal Robot Controller (SURC) based around a set of modular technologies to enable a single soldier to task and command multiple heterogenous robots, concentrating on the needs of the dismounted soldier. Our approach is to develop an API (and instances of this API) based on XML which will allow rapid development of both general purpose and mission/robot-specific control stations, with an eye towards module re-use at the front-end, tactical, and transport layers. Our initial implementation will be JAUS-based, although the modular nature of this architecture allows for other transport layers to be integrated.

A key novel aspect of this effort is the modular XML-based architecture, which is broken into three main components: Front End, Core, and Back End. The Front End module is responsible for all user interactions and supports multi-modal input (graphical, joystick, and audio), and output (graphical and audio). The Back End module is responsible for transport layer-specific capabilities. This enables SURC to operate in various network environments such as JAUS, STANAG-4586, or other proprietary protocols.

The bulk of developmental effort is concentrated around the Core module. This module consists of other separate sub-modules, responsible for mobility planning, tactical planning, capabilities assessment, and world model knowledge representation. Each sub-module is line-replaceable, enabling, for instance, different planners to be integrated depending on need.