Ground Technology

Ground Technology is focused on researching efforts that support and enable the Army's modernization priority for the Next Generation of Combat Vehicles, including systems for the deployment and sustainment of ground movement and maneuver. This program element designs and validates technologies necessary for legacy and future ground movement, maneuver, and protection of Soldiers and systems. The work is consistent with the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering priority focus areas in support of the National Defense Strategy and the Army Modernization Strategy. It is performed by the United States (U.S.) Army Futures Command and the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center.

Project BK7 within PE 0602144A, Robotics for Engineer Operations Technology, aims to develop standoff robotic capabilities for Combat Engineers to reduce Soldier/Engineer risks and fatalities while conducting activities essential to shaping the environment. The project will close the gaps between commercial construction equipment and the requirements of the future Engineer Force to support maneuver, movement, and sustainment. It will also develop modeling and simulation tools that represent realistic states for Engineer robotic operations and assess semi-autonomous and autonomous construction equipment technologies needed for remote control Engineer operations. This project supports the development, testing, and evaluation of prototypical robotic Combat Engineer equipment.