UAS-based Precision Aim for Device Render Safe in CBRN Environments

DTRA is in need of technical innovations associated with warfighting units performing very long range WMD device render-safe missions from a safe distance, outside of potentially CBRN contaminated environments. Explosive Ordinance Disposal (EOD) definitions and terms are commonly used by many nations and exist on the public internet including steps involving EOD detection, identification, field evaluation, render safe, recovery and disposal. Successfully performing stand-off EOD missions with personal positioned away from the contaminated environment requires a payload capable of remotely and accurately aiming via employment of currently fielded EOD disruptors against the explosive ordnance threat with a high degree of precision. Payload capabilities of the proposed solution should ideally be sized to be compatible with currently fielded Department of War UAS systems. The desired end state is a system weight that is designed for small-unit operations UAS. DTRA conducts counter WMD science and technology research and testing efforts for Joint Services EOD missions. Ground robotic platforms currently provide the only fielded remote-employment method for EOD disruptors, but these lack terrain-independent access and approach-angle flexibility that an aerial platform would provide. Small unit operations UAS platforms with sufficient flight endurance and payload capacity to carry current EOD-relevant payloads into contested or austere environments. This topic seeks novel approaches to providing precision remote-aiming payloads delivered and emplaced by remote UAS with subsequent operational render safe execution orchestrated from remotely. The capability should be able to be remotely recovered and re-charged to enable system re-use at another location after the render safe mission is completed STATE OF TECHNOLOGY: • Significant technical challenges exist in achieving operational standoff. Standoff is defined as the ability to gather information about, or employ tools against, an explosive ordnance threat at a meaningful physical distance, without the EOD technician or the EOD tool itself needing to be placed directly against or immediately adjacent to the threat. • The Stand Off objective is a novel precision-aiming render safe capability that can be delivered to a meaningful distance from the threat and still deliver accurate, useful results without requiring direct contact or close-in emplacement against the device itself. In some cases, physically touching or bringing a metal object too close to the device may trigger it’s detonation. • The Remote Objective is defined as the ability to employ Joint Service EOD tools using robotic platforms, hook-and-line techniques, or a combination of tools and techniques without the EOD technician being physically present at the threat site. For example, employing a disruptor via a ground robot so that the technician never approaches the device directly. In an existing CBRNE environment or if the unexploded ordinance is associated with a CBRN warhead, is critical to conduct the mission from a remote location. • Current EOD disruptor technology is capable of engaging a threat at a distance once it is properly aimed and fired, but current aiming and emplacement methods require the disruptor to be physically positioned and adjusted by hand, meaning an EOD technician must be directly at the tool to set it up correctly. As a result, even though the disruptor’s terminal effect has standoff, the technician does not retain standoff during the aiming and emplacement process itself. Existing remote delivery methods can get a disruptor near a threat, but it remains difficult to finely position and aim it once it arrives. • Current ground robotic platforms are limited by terrain and access. A threat located on a rooftop, upper floor, or otherwise inaccessible position is simply unreachable by a ground platform, regardless of any aiming capability it might have. Novel aerial delivery capabilities are emerging that could resolve this access constraint by providing rapid ingress and egress over obstacles, terrain, rubble, and structures common to austere and urban environments, along with the ability to approach threat devices from angles and approach paths unavailable to ground robots.