Better Robots 1 The Goal: More Robots Enabling Fewer Soldiers Military “robots” today lack autonomy –Currently, many soldiers control one robot –Want few soldiers working with a team of agile robots (force multiplication) –Put less soldiers in harms way Better robots for monitoring –Enable soldiers w/ persistent and pervasive ISR, including from hard to reach places (e.g., inside buildings/caves) Better robots for logistics –Replace soldiers in the supply chain w/ autonomous robots and vehicles RQ1-Predator GCS

Better Robots 2 Technical Approach This is “a new kind of war” - robots (and soldiers) must quickly deploy and adapt in a huge variety of war-fighting conditions. Our technical approach emphasizes: –Planning and Reasoning under Uncertainty. –Perception and Awareness. –Control for Manipulation and Mobility. Including land, sea, and air mobility. –Communication and Coordination.

Better Robots 3 Example: UAV Control Raven, Predator, Global Hawk,… Pilots say “It’s like flying a plane while looking through a straw” UAVs shouldn’t be constrained by the pilot –Pull more “G’s” –High-bandwidth, sensor-rich control Better control can improve maneuverability and efficiency

Better Robots 4 Example: UAV Control Machine learning control laws can expand the flight envelope (e.g., perching, flying in buildings/caves) GPS-denied navigation Energy harvesting: In most environmental conditions, Global Hawk loitering could consume zero energy (there is energy in the air) 330 fps

Better Robots 5 Example: Robotic Supply Chains Supply chain must focus on responsiveness and surge capabilities Simple tasks like unloading put soldiers in danger Autonomous robotic vehicles which coordinate to optimize supply movement Loading/Unloading automated by robotic workers

Better Robots 6 Example: Robotic Unloading Robust manipulation Key principles: –Reasoning about uncertainty –Mechanical compliance –Working w/ humans (safe & robots take the easy packages) Video of domo + tlp’s sim

Better Robots 7 TodayTomorrowDay After That Tele-operated unmanned vehicles used effectively by special forces Supply chain implemented by human pilots/drivers and loaders/unloaders Humans interact w/ robots through joystick interfaces FCS vehicles in common use, but still require teams of trained personnel Robotic ground vehicles perform routine supply runs in friendly areas. Humans begin to interact w/ robots through restricted speech and gesture commands Autonomous vehicles require minimal supervision, and outperform the best pilots Robotic supply chain improves efficiency and surge response, and removes humans from danger Humans interact w/ robots as team-mates

Better Robots 8 Proposed Applications Logistics: Packing Loading Transportation Monitoring: Surveillance Patrol Observation Application Demonstrations Planning and Reasoning Uncertainty Dynamic world Scale Prediction Perception and Awareness Vision Speech Gesture Localization Surround awareness Communication and Coordination Teaming Coordinated motion Manipulation and Control Grasping Rolling, legged, flying mobility Technical Areas

Better Robots 9 Backup slide w/ other CSAIL vehicles