The U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command (DEVCOM) Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Cyber, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Center (C5ISR Center) executed Cooperative Research and Development Agreements (CRADAs) in FY23 with three industry partners in support of the Next Generation Combat Vehicle Cross Functional Team’s (NGCV CFT) primary modernization efforts. The CRADAs established partnerships to support critical automation capabilities for the design of future armored platforms.
Aided Target Detection and Recognition (AiTDR) software is a critical enabling capability that will automate and expedite the detection and classification of threat personnel and vehicles in complex tactical environments. By employing state-of-the-art Machine Learning algorithms trained to locate potential threats, users will have enhanced survivability and lethality. With integration of advanced sensor payloads and AiTDR processing, the time to interrogate threats will be reduced in addition to relieving burden from the crew.
In order to facilitate mature AiTDR software inclusion in future ground platforms, it was critical that CRADAs were established between C5ISR Center and key industry partners. Though the vendors are not explicitly required to leverage Government-provided data products, the performance of C5ISR AiTDR algorithms have been demonstrated as state-of-the-art.
Though nontraditional, the establishment of CRADAs directly with industry platform developers will ensure that proven technology gets integrated into early system designs, qualified, and ultimately into the hands of the soldiers.
Emerging armored ground combat platforms are not the only vehicles that are able to leverage advanced target detection and recognition algorithms. C5ISR Center also established CRADAs with two additional vendors to enhance the lethality and autonomy of today’s current tactical vehicle fleet. C5ISR’s advanced sensors and AiTDR software are also a fundamental enabler for future robotic platforms.