Military researchers ask industry to use climbing robots to create mesh network for jungle communications
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ARLINGTON, Va. – U.S. military researchers are asking industry to find ways of using small flying or climbing robots to enhance communications in dense, wet tropical jungles by establishing self-positioning 3D mesh communications for small-unit operations.
Officials of the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) in Arlington, Va., released a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) opportunity on Friday (HR001121S0007-14) for the SQUad Intelligent Robotic Radio Enhancing Links (SQUIRREL) project.
SQUIRREL seeks to extend the range of wireless mobile communication in triple-canopy tropical rainforest to enable small teams of four to six warfighters to communicate easily not only among themselves, but also with battlefield commanders in other locations.
SQUIRREL anticipates using climbing, flying, or hybrids robots as radio relays to form self-positioning three-dimensional mesh communications networks in support of small unit operations such as reconnaissance.
Related: Army chooses unmanned combat vehicle from General Dynamics to provide robotic cargo carrying for infantry
Good communications for U.S. missions like hostage rescue, scouting, and training allies can be lost in difficult RF environments like jungles and caves, DARPA researchers point out. Small military units operating in triple-canopy jungle face particularly difficult conditions for mobile radio frequency (RF) communication because of attenuation from layers of wet foliage.
Yet it may be possible to form a dense, low size, weight- and power-consumption (SWaP) 3D mesh of radio communications relays that moves with squads of no more than eight members that helps squad members keep in touch, and keep higher-echelon commanders informed of their status.
These robot-assisted 3D mesh communications networks should be easy to deploy; function on long missions; low noise; low observable; and low probability of detection or intercept.
Related: Robotic technologies for the future land warrior
Small unit movement through a jungle environment means a SQUIRREL mesh must adapt continuously to new settings as it follows and supports the team. To avoid using RF power levels high enough to escape the jungle canopy, SQUIRREL nodes should use low-power RF and free-space optical communications as they move.
SQUIRREL phase-one will develop feasibility studies using reports and white papers based on existing work; test and measurement data; prototype designs; and performance projections. Phase 2 will develop climbing and flying robots with communications relays that weigh less than one pound each.
Some of these robots must include capabilities for locating, self-positioning, and free-space optical means to reach orbiting unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) or other overhead assets for reachback communications.
Related: Wearable electronics adapt to the infantry
SQUIRREL also could be useful in public service roles such as search and rescue in densely wooded areas in temperate zones — particularly in its reachback role. SQUIRREL also could provide commercial communications nodes in dense forests for drug formulation and counting endangered species.
Companies interested should submit proposals to the Defense SBIR/SSTR Innovation website no later than 29 June 2021 at https://www.dodsbirsttr.mil/submissions/login. Email questions or concerns to DARPA at [email protected] with BAA number HR001119S0035-20 in the subject line.
More information is online at https://beta.sam.gov/opp/4983dfa3040e44978de5fe8627cbef02/view.
ARLINGTON, Va. – U.S. military researchers are asking industry to find ways of using small flying or climbing robots to enhance communications in dense, wet tropical jungles by establishing self-positioning 3D mesh communications for small-unit operations.
Officials of the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) in Arlington, Va., released a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) opportunity on Friday (HR001121S0007-14) for the SQUad Intelligent Robotic Radio Enhancing Links (SQUIRREL) project.
SQUIRREL seeks to extend the range of wireless mobile communication in triple-canopy tropical rainforest to enable small teams of four to six warfighters to communicate easily not only among themselves, but also with battlefield commanders in other locations.
SQUIRREL anticipates using climbing, flying, or hybrids robots as radio relays to form self-positioning three-dimensional mesh communications networks in support of small unit operations such as reconnaissance.
Related: Army chooses unmanned combat vehicle from General Dynamics to provide robotic cargo carrying for infantry
Good communications for U.S. missions like hostage rescue, scouting, and training allies can be lost in difficult RF environments like jungles and caves, DARPA researchers point out. Small military units operating in triple-canopy jungle face particularly difficult conditions for mobile radio frequency (RF) communication because of attenuation from layers of wet foliage.
Yet it may be possible to form a dense, low size, weight- and power-consumption (SWaP) 3D mesh of radio communications relays that moves with squads of no more than eight members that helps squad members keep in touch, and keep higher-echelon commanders informed of their status.
These robot-assisted 3D mesh communications networks should be easy to deploy; function on long missions; low noise; low observable; and low probability of detection or intercept.
Related: Robotic technologies for the future land warrior
Small unit movement through a jungle environment means a SQUIRREL mesh must adapt continuously to new settings as it follows and supports the team. To avoid using RF power levels high enough to escape the jungle canopy, SQUIRREL nodes should use low-power RF and free-space optical communications as they move.
SQUIRREL phase-one will develop feasibility studies using reports and white papers based on existing work; test and measurement data; prototype designs; and performance projections. Phase 2 will develop climbing and flying robots with communications relays that weigh less than one pound each.
Some of these robots must include capabilities for locating, self-positioning, and free-space optical means to reach orbiting unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) or other overhead assets for reachback communications.
Related: Wearable electronics adapt to the infantry
SQUIRREL also could be useful in public service roles such as search and rescue in densely wooded areas in temperate zones — particularly in its reachback role. SQUIRREL also could provide commercial communications nodes in dense forests for drug formulation and counting endangered species.
Companies interested should submit proposals to the Defense SBIR/SSTR Innovation website no later than 29 June 2021 at https://www.dodsbirsttr.mil/submissions/login. Email questions or concerns to DARPA at [email protected] with BAA number HR001119S0035-20 in the subject line.
More information is online at https://beta.sam.gov/opp/4983dfa3040e44978de5fe8627cbef02/view.
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About the Author: NC Scout
NC Scout is the nom de guerre of a former Infantry Scout and Sergeant in one of the Army’s best Reconnaissance Units. He has combat tours in both Iraq and Afghanistan. He teaches a series of courses focusing on small unit skills rarely if ever taught anywhere else in the prepping and survival field, including his RTO Course which focuses on small unit communications. In his free time he is an avid hunter, bushcrafter, writer, long range shooter, prepper, amateur radio operator and Libertarian activist. He can be contacted at [email protected] or via his blog at brushbeater.wordpress.com .
9 Comments
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GUNS N GEAR
Haven’t play in jungles much. I’m sure dense canopy is a problem. In conifer forests its easier to find openings. I always wondered about a small baloon with a long wire attached? For search and rescue beacons it could be attached to the bottom of an orange color balloon transmitting SOS till the battery went dead.
The whole unit could be as small as a flashlight. Hook the D ring to your body. Pull the ripcord and it floats up 300 feet and starts transmitting. Kind of like what reels out behind a TOW missle? Don’t seem like it would take much more than fishing line to keep it tethered.
I’m submitting my miniature mesh networking scheme to DARPA. It will be a troupe of midgets, skilled in climbing and outfitted with Yagis, Baofengs, and linesman’s pole spikes, who will follow the squad and ascend to the top of the canopy to provide a communications link. I’m confident in my ability to source the Yagis, Baofengs, and climbing gear, but less so in my ability to gather the requisite number of midgets.
5
Unbelievably complex and stupid.
Almost as if…we solved this problem LONG ago down in Panama with simple applied antenna theory…and someone teaches all of this now…
I dunno. Craziness.
As soon as I heard the words “Jungle Drone” and “Flying and Climbing” I thought to myself “Have these MF’rs ever stepped foot into any humid forest with a year long growing season in their life? How the heck are you gonna fly or climb a drone in the jungle?
I mean seriously. Train your guys to climb trees and give them the proper equipment. Light, strong, and durable.
Obviously the tunnel rat guys in Vietnam got extra favors. Why not train Squirrel guys and give them extra favors?
I knew some 125-150 lbs soldiers who would love to get some extra pay to climb a tree, hang an antenna, and rack out.
Or just use the old slingshot and reel.
The U.S. government could give a headache a headache.
Their solution to everything is to throw more money at it.
If they can train monkeys to pick coconuts they can use them for this purpose too. Midgets are way cooler though.
Wouldn’t a microrepeater that is shootable by a crossbow work better than this?
Sorry but I have zero jungle experience and this just seems stupidly complex given that humidity will play havoc with li batteries and electric motors which aren’t going to last long in that environment.