Persistent Systems has successfully completed Phase I of the U.S. Army Robotic Combat Vehicles (RCV) program, in which it has networked several vehicles using its Wave Relay MANET (mobile ad hoc network) radio solutions. The RCV program, run under the Army’s Future Command’s Next Generation Combat Vehicles – Cross Functional Team, aims to prove the viability of manned-unmanned teaming, culminating in a future Optionally Manned Fighting Vehicle (OMFV) controlling multiple RCV “wingmen.”
As the OMFV has not yet been developed, Phase I of the program has used a modified Bradley infantry vehicle called the Mission Enabling Technologies-Demonstrator (MET-D) as a surrogate platform, with a modified M113 tracked armored personnel carrier acting as an RCV.
Following the successful completion of Phase I, Persistent Systems is now working with the Next Generation Combat Vehicles – Cross Functional Team and other stakeholders, such as Army Combat Capabilities Development Command’s Ground Vehicle Systems Center and C5ISR Center, to review lessons learned and further adapt Wave Relay capabilities.
Brian Soles, VP of Government Relations & Business Strategy for Persistent Systems, commented: “We successfully networked the surrogate platforms in a point-to-point fashion with our Wave Relay MANET. That means enabling the cameras, sensors and software as well as the command-and-control interface for control of the RCV and its gun systems.”
“We are really looking forward to Phase III of the Army RCV program, because it’ll be a complex, RF-contested and -congested environment with multiple air, ground, and dismounted units, and that’s where Wave Relay’s scalability, resiliency and spectrum efficiency will shine.”
