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Improving Maintenance of Intelligent Robotic Systems Through Modular Designs - Phase II

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Improving Maintenance of Intelligent Robotic Systems Through Modular Designs – Phase II

NCMS Project #: 142168

Problem: Profound questions have finally been answered on how to make legged robots walk and run dynamically and efficiently.  At the same time, these complex dynamics pose significant challenges for computational approaches to control and stability analysis, as well as how to maintain the actuators and other components which take most of the wear and tear during operations.  Due to the wide variety of robot applications, hardware control, software, understanding of failure modes, as well as safety, reliability and performance have remained open challenges.

Benefit: The completion project tasks will serve as an example to the commercial industry in how to streamline the process of designing and developing modular robotic systems and components.  These new processes and technologies can be used by commercial industry to reduce time of repairs, improve repair quality, and reduce accidents.

Solution/Approach: In Phase II, an autonomy trade and evaluation study will be performed on the Modular Open System Architectures (MOSA) identified in Phase I to develop and define the framework of autonomy required for legacy and emerging payload and mission requirements.  The results of the evaluation will define the robot’s baseline framework of autonomy and the preparation of a forward autonomy roadmap that accommodates reconfiguration of the robot with new modular components and subsystems to meet new and unpredictable tasks.

Impact on Warfighter:

  • Increase operational efficiencies 
  • Minimize spare parts inventory and reduce logistical burden 
  • Improve safety and reduce casualties 
  • Strengthen warfighter flexibility and lethality 

DOD Participation:

  • Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) 
  • U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command (DEVCOM) Armaments Center 

Industry Participation:

  • CLogic Defense
  • NCMS

Benefit Area(s):

  • Repair turn-around time
  • Maintenance avoidance and reliability
  • Improved readiness
  • Reliability improvement

Focus Area:

  • Reliability improvement (hardware)