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MAGIC 2010: Super-smart robots wanted for international challenge

MAGIC 2010

This challenge aims to improve the ability of dismounted ground forces to conduct zone reconnaissance in an urban environment by increasing safety and efficiency and reducing cost via the integration of autonomy. It is not about sensor development or vehicle mobility, but about shifting the Unmanned Vehicle System (UVS) state-of-the-art from manual and tele-operation to partial or full autonomy.

It anticipates integration of humans and multiple unmanned vehicle systems (UVS) to autonomously and dynamically coordinate, plan, and re-plan multi-UVS task allocation and execution strategies against changing environments whilst simultaneously providing effective situational awareness to potential users of the information. Increased autonomy, robot-to-robot collaboration and reduced operator workload are rewarded.

Specifically, the program aims to:

• Accelerate the development of autonomous and unmanned vehicle technology in areas that include: task allocation, multi-UVS control, tactical behaviour, machine intelligence, dynamic planning and re-planning, data and sensor fusion, humanmachine interfaces, multi-aspect situational awareness, and systems integration.
• Improve the current human-to-vehicle control ratios by demonstrating that multi-UVS cooperatives can operate effectively with limited supervision by humans in realistic environments.
• Shift the perceptions within the technical and operational communities regarding the state-of-the-art of autonomous multi-vehicle control by demonstrating the augmentation of realistic military activity in changing environments.
• Attract and energise a wide community of participants to bring fresh insights to the problem of developing robust autonomous multi-vehicle cooperatives and to identify and transition technologies to meet emerging requirements.

** Please note: Neutralise - does not imply weaponise