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“Now that’s flying first class”

(1990 advertisement for 100% Colombian coffee)

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Bridging the Gap between Technologyand Military Operations

Ensemble Behaviors

Mission Tasks

Ground Applications

SeaApplications

AirApplications

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Swarm Behaviors forMilitary Operations

CommsResources

SensorResources

ProcessingResources

Ensemble Behaviors

Behavior Functionality

Functions and MOEs/MOPs

Mission Tasks

Ground Applications

SeaApplications

AirApplications

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Issue for SDR:Identification of “Killer App”

Application for which DR is not just a feasible solution, or a good solution, but is the best solution, or preferably the only solution

Critical issue: avoid peripheral technical challenges

• Impossible sensor and communications requirements

User pull is for Camera On Wheels (“COW”)• Small, but not Many

• Minimal software, implicit behavioral requirements

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Application CharacteristicsFavoring a DR Solution

Intrinsic need for parallelism– Not only to speed up the process

– Example: Preventing mobile targets from hiding behind objects to evade detection

Need for expendability– Repetitive performance of sometimes-fatal act

– Example: UXO PUCA (Pick Up and Carry Away)

Need for “dedication”– Need for “agents” to be simultaneously present at multiple

specific sites

– Examples: UXO BIP (Blow In Place) Establishment and maintenance of a network of

communications relays Detection of intruders at multiple possible entry points

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More Application CharacteristicsFavoring a DR Solution

Crisp user view of system-level functionality– Well-defined and comprehensible to the user

– Support tasking, monitor, override, assessment

– Above the level of individual robots’ activities

– Example: “coverage” paradigm

Minimal ancillary technical challenges: no “long-pole” peripheral technical challenges, so can focus attention and resources on the DR issues

– Example: mobility requirements limited to smooth flat surfaces (building interiors)

– Example: tractable mission-critical sensor requirements (AP Landmine detection fails this test)

– Example: communications link and sensors for micro-UUVs

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Overall Issuesfor Distributed

RoboticsWhat’s the DR “killer app”?What are the precise metrics for a given application?

What exactly is the system really supposed to accomplish?

The goal is effective group action “Effective” may or may not imply “coordinated” “Coordinated” may or may not imply “cooperative” or

“collaborative”Development is the big hump

Bigger challenges than in the deployed system Communications to support debugging, reprogramming Power to support T&E (i.e., rechargeable)