At the AUVSI's Unmanned Systems North America 2011 conference, the director of innovation at the Office of Naval Research (ONR), Dr. Larry Schuette, said that ONR had to overcome a significant number of hurdles, including littoral and autonomy operations in its unmanned systems. ONR would be increasing its investment in science and technology (S&T) in unmanned underwater vehicles.
Dr. Lawrence Schuette, Director, Office of Innovation for the Office of Naval Research, addresses attendees of a Navy unmanned systems panel session during the 2011 Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems' annual North American conference being held in Washington, D.C. Credit: Navy photo by John F. Williams
The director added that ONR was identifying suitable technologies required for the Marine Corps and the Navy and was committed to transfer those technologies to the future Navy.
The Navy's S&T department, ONR, and the Naval Research Laboratory have a notable history in development of unmanned systems. ONR would be addressing technical issues in unmanned systems, such as communications connectivity, ability to handle complex missions, ability to handle more number of missions, operability in real time, and the ability to operate the systems near the shore areas. ONR would also work on improving the skills of the operators who run the unmanned systems.
The director of innovation said that autonomy would be among the key focus areas in the update for the Naval S&T Strategic Plan 2011.
ONR’s Innovative Naval Prototypes (INP), which include the Autonomous Aerial Cargo Utility Systems (AACUS) and the Large Displacement Unmanned Underwater Vehicle (LDUUV), are among the technologies being explored.
ONR is collaborating with the Marine Corps, the Army and the Naval Air Systems Command on AACUS.
The program manager for PMS 406, Navy Capt. Ashton, said that the LDUUV has a large capability for different types of payloads, and that he was focusing on pre-acquisition activities for the LDUUV.