Remote Control Program (RCP)

Leader-Follower System Highlights

The leader-follower system allows the movement of many supply vehicles using minimal manpower at minimal exposure to risk.  The system allows a driver in a lead vehicle to establish an electronic virtual path in real time, and control a large number of unmanned vehicles all following in a column while maintaining a selected spacing.  This is not an electric towbar; each vehicle is independently following the path established by the lead vehicle while maintaining spacing and speed with the rest of the vehicles in the column.  Once a path is established, a convoy can be assembled and put in motion following the selected path without the need for a manned leader vehicle:  fully autonomous convoy operations.  Intermediate points can be established along each path for designated vehicles to automatically leave or join the column as it passes by.  The prototype version of this system was originally demonstrated at Fort Eustis in May, 1998, and has been enhanced with many technology enhancements since that time.

Features

• Turnkey system with 2 modes of operation:

  • New trail generated on-the-fly by manned driver in lead vehicle, with many vehicles following immediate leader.

  • Predefined trail autonomously driven by many vehicles in column formation, with no drivers required.

• Intermediate drop-off/pick-up sites can be established for designated vehicles to leave convoy/join convoy autonomously

• A vehicle does not have to be outfitted for autonomous operation to be the Leader vehicle.

• Simple to establish column using designated vehicles and paths – near turnkey, easy to learn and use for soldiers in the field

• Real-time operator controls for convoy speed and separation distance.

• Vehicles use smart speed control to automatically slow down for turns.

• GPS based control and tracking system – input to hold position on path can be via GPS corrections received from a fixed base, GPS augmentation satellites, or WAAS.  The vehicle control navigation system can be augmented with an Inertial Navigation System (INS) in poor coverage areas to allow continued positional awareness during GPS drop.

• Vehicle configurations not a limiting factor – can be automatic or manual transmission, wheeled or tracked, and wheel or skid steering.

• ITT system can control a convoy that consists of a variety of vehicle types.

• ITT remote control system does not interfere with normal manned operation of vehicle.

• ITT line-of-sight or teleoperation (video from vehicle to base station provides remote operator with in-the-driver’s-seat feel) remote control can be added to vehicles.

• Safety features – Intelligent Collision Avoidance between convoy vehicles (allows other vehicles in convoy to bypass a disabled vehicle and continue on the route); mission abort/resume activation from vehicles and at base station; automatic vehicle stop due to command & control link drop; and automatic vehicle stop due to off-path condition.

• Transition from remote control to manned operations in under 1 minute for each vehicle.