Autonomous Surveillance Technologies Relating to Dismounted Soldiers

The development of the autonomous applications for dismounted Soldier systems is paramount to defeating our adversaries, such as China and Russia, in future combat. A comprehensive literature review is necessary to assist in defining the best path forward.

Army Research Laboratory, Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD

The development of the artificial intelligence/machine learning (AI/ML) applications for dismounted Soldier systems is paramount to defeating our adversaries, such as China and Russia, in future combat. A comprehensive AI/ML literature review is a first step toward defining what exists and what can be applied and researched for our nation's defense in future warfare. There is a clear need to use the latest AI/ML technologies in threat identification and elimination without U.S. lives lost. A comprehensive literature review is necessary to assist in defining the best path forward. In theory, networked unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) using onboard cameras may assist in successful navigation and threat identifications for ground troops. Furthermore, UAVs used as a surveillance and situational awareness (SA) tool may also be feasible to house weaponry to eliminate these threats.

As next-generation AI/ML-enabled optical systems, visual enhancement systems, and accessories are developed for use by the Army, a comprehensive examination of the human systems integration implications for networked use of these systems for teams of Soldiers/Operators is needed to examine human performance relative to teams equipped with legacy weapons and enablers.