The annual Advanced Technology Exercise (ANTX) supports analysis and evaluation of technologies and tactics that must be rapidly developed to address emergent warfighter requirements.
PROJECT HIGHLIGHT: WR Support of ANTX 2017
WR’s Role: WR supported software development and mechanical engineering design of a bow ramp for an unmanned Advanced Composite Riverine Craft (ACRC).
Results: The ACRC drove an intended route via waypoints from the bay to a
beaching. The bow was then triggered to drop and deploy an Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Unmanned Ground Vehicle (UGV) ashore.
Significance: The effective demonstration of this combined technology proved the feasibility to conduct USV-UGV threat detection and neutralization operations through a combination of semi-autonomous and tele-operative control.
PROJECT HIGHLIGHT: WR Support of ANTX 2019
WR’s Role: WR was a key member of the team that demonstrated the viability of coordinated long-range autonomous navigation and cross-domain unmanned operations. We also supported payload deployment system development and integration with craft-based launch systems, including subsystems and software integration.
Results: Two Long-Range Unmanned Surface Vehicles (LRUSVs) successfully navigated from Norfolk to Cherry Point with loiter and station-keeping functionality. In addition, the Coyote Block 3 Unmanned Arial Sensor (UAS) was successfully launched from the LRUSVs near Cherry Point.
Significance: This demonstration proved the feasibility of multi-Unmanned Surface Vehicles (USVs) coordinated navigation and the ability to launch unmanned aerial payloads.