Problem:

The new generation of "smart weapons" includes intelligent robotics systems. To be effective, weapons of this type must be able to navigate in the field, communicate with other robots, update the command center and leverage machine vision and acoustic sensor technologies. They must provide maximum functionality in a very small space, consume low power, be low cost, and offer high maneuverability and reliability.

Advanced multi-legged robotic munition supporting the NATO mission in the hills of West Germany. State-of-the-art DSP's listen for tanks and low-flying helicopters and can take evasive action.

The tracked Advanced Mobile Test Bed allowed us to develop cutting-edge machine vision, sonar and navigation algorithms.

The Advanced Mobile Test Bed machine vision processor optimized for high-speed filtering, edge detection and feature extraction

The Advanced Mobile Test Bed motion control and sonar mapping processors.

Command Center 3D-graphics visualization processors.

The Advanced Mobile Test Bed navigation and communications processor.

Solution:

We developed distributed, multiple embedded microprocessor systems dedicated to each of the core subsystems, which included navigation, motion control, vision, sonar, acoustic and communications. In addition, we designed real-time operating systems for TMS32020 DSPs, Zoran Vector Processors, 68020 processors, as well as a custom array processor. Finally, we created a PC-based Command Center with a rich, graphical interface which is used to coordinate the field robots, load the terrain maps, and display sensor information.