Layered autonomous overwatch: the necessity and feasability of multiple unmanned systems in combat support
2007
Unmanned systems simultaneously reduce risk and magnify the impact of soldier-operators. For example, in
Afghanistan UAVs routinely provide overwatch to manned units while UGVs support IED identification and
disposal roles. Expanding these roles requires greater autonomy with a coherent unmanned "system of systems"
approach that leverages one platform's strengths against the weakness of another. Specific collaborative
unmanned systems such as shared sensing, communication relay, and distributed computing to achieve greater
autonomy are often presented as possible solutions. By surveying currently deployed systems, this paper shows
that the spectrum of air and ground systems provide an important mixture of range, speed, payload, and endurance
with significant implications on mission structure. Rather than proposing UxV teams collaborating
towards specific autonomous capabilities, this paper proposes that basic physical and environmental constraints
will drive tactics towards a layered, unmanned battlespace that provides force protection and reconnaissance in
depth to a manned core.
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