US-based intelligent systems solutions developer Charles River Analytics has been contracted to develop a hands-free human-machine interface (HMI) for soldiers.
Awarded by the US Army, the two-year, follow-on $1m contract is part of the Supervisory HMI Enabling Practical Autonomous Robot Direction (SHEPARD) effort proposed by the company.
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The SHEPARD programme seeks to combine several robot control technologies to offer a natural and reliable hands-free HMI for soldiers operating in various environments and keep them safe.
Currently, the latest unmanned vehicle (UxV) systems need active remote control or teleoperation, where a commander orders a trained human operator to remotely control the system.
Charles River Analytics senior scientist Stan German said: “Our approach to managing UxVs is in stark contrast with how robot operators currently direct platforms. They use cumbersome, hands-on, head-down controllers.
“Our goal is to develop controls that let robots seamlessly integrate into human teams.”
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By GlobalDataSHEPARD promotes more reliable communication that enables commanders to issue instructions directly to the vehicles. This enhances situational awareness and reduces delays.
Currently, Charles River Analytics is developing a hands-free HMI that combines speech and gestures to facilitate reliable command and control of multiple UxVs.
SHEPARD is proposing to use smart devices, such as a watch, in order to ensure seamless communication with military robots.
The effort aims to help reduce the cognitive burden on troops and their commanders and speed-up the adoption of UxVs into military operations.
