ONR picks partner for swarm autonomy research
The US armed forces are keen to exploit the potential of unmanned swarms. (Image: US Army CCDC Army Research Laboratory)
Georgia Tech Applied Research Corporation will investigate ‘heterogeneity across the swarm and super swarm systems’, according to the DoD.
Georgia Tech Applied Research Corporation has received a $35.24 million competitively procured research contract from the Office of Naval Research (ONR) under the Heterogeneous Autonomy Prototyping Evolution initiative.
‘This contract provides for the investigation of heterogeneity across the swarm and super swarm systems,’ the DoD noted on 13 January.
It added: ‘Heterogeneity in multiple sensor modalities will allow for more robust target detection and confidence, and allow for [a] combination of swarm payload variants to achieve the goals of intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance and targeting missions.’
Georgia Tech Applied Research will also consider how this architecture can work with other autonomy architectures seamlessly to combine for instance heterogeneity in platforms and heterogeneity across domains.
Work will be performed in Atlanta, Georgia, with an expected completion date of 12 January 2025.
Among its priorities, the USN is exploring the architecture for communications and C2 of multiple types of autonomous systems (UAVs, UGVs and USVs) in a littoral explosive hazard defeat environment.
Its research focuses on USMC Marine Expeditionary Unit amphibious operations, and the optimal C2 structure will provide the commander and operators with the appropriate levels of information and controls through a common operating picture.
More from Uncrewed Vehicles
-
![Cummings Aerospace showcases Hellhound loitering munition designed for US Army’s LASSO programme (video)]()
Cummings Aerospace showcases Hellhound loitering munition designed for US Army’s LASSO programme (video)
Cummings Aerospace presented its turbojet-powered Hellhound loitering munition at SOF Week 2025, offering a man-portable solution aligned with the US Army’s LASSO requirements.
-
![SOF Week 2025: PDW unveils attritable FPV drone for SOF operations at scale]()
SOF Week 2025: PDW unveils attritable FPV drone for SOF operations at scale
PDW has revealed its Attritable Multirotor First Person View drone at SOF Week 2025, offering special operations forces a low-cost, rapidly deployable platform for strike and ISR missions, inspired by battlefield lessons from Ukraine.
-
![SOF Week 2025: Teledyne FLIR white paper provides guidance on reusable loitering munitions]()
SOF Week 2025: Teledyne FLIR white paper provides guidance on reusable loitering munitions
Teledyne FLIR is highlighting the emerging requirements for 'recoverable and re-usable' loitering munitions across the contemporary operating environment during this week’s SOF Week conference in Tampa, Florida.
-
![SOF Week 2025: Kraken Technology group debuts K3 Scout USV in North America]()
SOF Week 2025: Kraken Technology group debuts K3 Scout USV in North America
High-performance maritime industry player Kraken Technology Group, based in the UK, has used the SOF Week conference in Tampa, Florida this week to debut its K3 Scout uncrewed surface vessel (USV) to the North American market.
-
![Palladyne AI and Red Cat to demonstrate capabilities for autonomous drone swarms to the US military]()
Palladyne AI and Red Cat to demonstrate capabilities for autonomous drone swarms to the US military
Red Cat and Palladyne AI recently conducted a cross-platform collaborative flight involving three diverse heterogeneous drones.
-
![Jammer resistant drone designs spark search for countermeasures]()
Jammer resistant drone designs spark search for countermeasures
The Russia-Ukraine conflict has driven another stage of evolution for drones and the counter measures to defend against them.
