Payloads for small robotic platforms have historically been designed and implemented as platform and task specific
solutions. A consequence of this approach is that payloads cannot be deployed on different robotic platforms without
substantial re-engineering efforts. To address this issue, we developed a modular countermine payload that is designed
from the ground-up to be platform agnostic. The payload consists of the multi-mission payload controller unit (PCU)
coupled with the configurable mission specific threat detection, navigation and marking payloads. The multi-mission
PCU has all the common electronics to control and interface to all the payloads. It also contains the embedded processor
that can be used to run the navigational and control software. The PCU has a very flexible robot interface which can be
configured to interface to various robot platforms. The threat detection payload consists of a two axis sweeping arm and
the detector. The navigation payload consists of several perception sensors that are used for terrain mapping, obstacle
detection and navigation. Finally, the marking payload consists of a dual-color paint marking system. Through the multimission
PCU, all these payloads are packaged in a platform agnostic way to allow deployment on multiple robotic
platforms, including Talon and Packbot.
KEYWORDS: Sensors, Robotics, Land mines, Mining, Robotic systems, Control systems, Navigation systems, Computing systems, Data processing, Data communications
CMMAD is a risk reduction effort for the AMDS program. As part of CMMAD, multiple instances of semi autonomous
robotic mine detection systems were created. Each instance consists of a robotic vehicle equipped with sensors required
for navigation and marking, countermine sensors and a number of integrated software packages which provide for real
time processing of the countermine sensor data as well as integrated control of the robotic vehicle, the sensor actuator
and the sensor. These systems were used to investigate critical interest functions (CIF) related to countermine robotic
systems. To address the autonomy CIF, the INL developed RIK was extended to allow for interaction with a mine sensor
processing code (MSPC). In limited field testing this system performed well in detecting, marking and avoiding both AT
and AP mines. Based on the results of the CMMAD investigation we conclude that autonomous robotic mine detection
is feasible. In addition, CMMAD contributed critical technical advances with regard to sensing, data processing and
sensor manipulation, which will advance the performance of future fieldable systems. As a result, no substantial
technical barriers exist which preclude - from an autonomous robotic perspective - the rapid development and
deployment of fieldable systems.
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