Carnegie Mellon University

NREC, which recently celebrated its 20th Anniversary, has a long history of providing cutting edge autonomous solutions to the Department of Defense.

January 10, 2018

NREC transitioning DARPA off-road autonomy to support the U.S. Army Tank Automotive Research, Development and Engineering Center (TARDEC) Autonomous Ground Resupply Mission

NREC, which recently celebrated its 20th Anniversary, has a long history of providing cutting edge autonomous solutions to the Department of Defense.  For nearly a decade of that time, NREC developed some of the world’s most advanced capabilities for UGVs in the most difficult off-road environments as part of multiple DARPA programs. Even today, this technology stands as extremely capable.

Unlike the commercial autonomous car industry, the military must operate in unknown and unstructured environments.  Roads may not exist but the supplies must reach the front lines.  Recognizing the need for autonomy to function in the unknowns of a military mission, the U.S. Army is making investments to improve and prepare for future autonomous operations.  The Army is aiming to aid logistics by having autonomous trucks take supplies from the ships and airbases to the main operation bases and then on to the outer bases.

NREC is part of the U.S. contractor team working together to make this a reality.  Our scientists and engineers will work to transition the research conducted by NREC over the past decade, improve and mature its components, and provide a “best of” system to support the Army warfighter and keep them safe.

 

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