Advancements in Robotic Combat Vehicles: Phase I Success
Persistent Systems has marked a significant milestone by completing Phase I of the U.S. Army’s Robotic Combat Vehicles (RCV) initiative. this phase involved the integration of multiple vehicles utilizing the company’s Wave Relay MANET (Mobile Ad Hoc Network) radio technology. The RCV program, part of the Army’s Future Command under the Next Generation Combat Vehicles – Cross Functional team, is designed to validate the concept of manned-unmanned collaboration, ultimately leading to the development of an Optionally Manned Fighting Vehicle (OMFV) that can command several RCV “wingmen.”
Utilizing Surrogate Platforms for Testing
Since the OMFV is still in the conceptual stage, the initial phase employed a modified Bradley infantry vehicle, known as the Mission Enabling Technologies-Demonstrator (MET-D), as a stand-in platform. Additionally, a modified M113 tracked armored personnel carrier served as the RCV for testing purposes.
Collaborative efforts for Future Phases
With Phase I successfully concluded, Persistent Systems is now collaborating with the Next Generation Combat Vehicles – Cross Functional Team and other key organizations, including the Army Combat Capabilities Development Command’s Ground Vehicle Systems Centre and the C5ISR Center. This partnership aims to analyze insights gained from the initial phase and enhance the capabilities of the Wave Relay system.
Expert Insights on Future Developments
Brian Soles, Vice President of Government Relations & Business Strategy at Persistent Systems, stated, “we effectively established a point-to-point network among the surrogate platforms using our Wave Relay MANET. This integration enabled the operation of cameras, sensors, and software, along with the command-and-control interface for managing the RCV and its weapon systems.”
“We are eagerly anticipating Phase III of the Army RCV program, which will present a challenging environment filled with radio frequency interference and congestion, involving various air, ground, and dismounted units. This is where the scalability, resilience, and spectrum efficiency of Wave Relay will truly demonstrate its capabilities.”
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