- Textron Systems has launched the CoreMotion robotic control package to enhance autonomous deployment capabilities.
- The system reliably performs tasks in diverse operational environments and supports modifications to existing vehicles.
- CoreMotion provides a low-risk path for autonomous adoption while retaining flexibility for technology integration.
- The modular design simplifies the process of equipping vehicles with robotic capabilities, reducing costs and complexity.
A Rhode Island-based company has introduced a brand new robotic control system designed for the autonomous deployment of ground vehicle platforms. Developed by Textron Systems, the CoreMotion robotic control package interprets and converts commands between ground vehicle subsystems, robotic control, autonomous navigation, and mission payloads to ensure reliable task execution in diverse operational environments. The company stated that CoreMotion serves as a mature control backbone for Textron Systems' RIPSAW series of unmanned ground vehicles, providing an affordable and scalable modification pathway for existing manned vehicle fleets to achieve reliable robotic operations.
The robotic control package is designed to execute and convert commands between autonomous software and vehicle hardware. This field-validated, hardware-agnostic autonomous integration solution has been utilized in Textron Systems' RIPSAW series of unmanned ground vehicles, demonstrating reliable performance over more than 8,000 miles of operation. Ryan Schaffernocker, Senior Vice President of Textron Systems' Air, Land, and Sea Systems, stated, "Our CoreMotion technology has been validated in over 8,000 miles of unmanned ground vehicle operations."
Applications and Advantages of CoreMotion
By introducing this mature robotic control capability to both new and existing vehicle platforms, CoreMotion offers customers a low-risk path to autonomous adoption while retaining the flexibility to integrate their chosen autonomous stack.
CoreMotion is applied across the complete RIPSAW unmanned ground vehicle series. With over fifty years of experience in robotics and autonomous technology, Textron Systems' CoreMotion has been deployed throughout the complete RIPSAW unmanned ground vehicle series. As a modular kit implementation, the CoreMotion package enables customers to quickly integrate autonomous capabilities into both new and existing vehicle fleets while reducing technical and integration risks. According to the released information, CoreMotion technology accelerates the transition from autonomous development and experimentation to operationally relevant capabilities.
Impact of Modular Design
CoreMotion combines mission-ready software with robust hardware components, including computers, actuators, cables, and electronic systems. Its modular design is intended to support installation in field environments, potentially simplifying the process of equipping vehicles with robotic capabilities. A significant feature of CoreMotion is its potential application to existing vehicle fleets. Military organizations often operate vehicles that are still useful but may require modernization to support emerging operational demands. CoreMotion is designed to provide a pathway for retrofitting manned vehicles for robotic operations.
By utilizing a modular integration kit, customers can introduce autonomous capabilities without replacing their entire vehicle fleet. This approach may help reduce the costs and complexity associated with modernization while protecting investments in existing platforms.
Furthermore, this could provide a viable pathway for organizations looking to expand unmanned vehicle capabilities without a complete redesign of their ground systems. However, the extent of these benefits will depend on the architecture of individual vehicles, integration requirements, testing, and specific operational demands of missions. CoreMotion aims to address this integration challenge by providing a common control layer between autonomous software and vehicle hardware. Its modular architecture may reduce the need for platform-specific integration work and help simplify the process of deploying robotic capabilities across different fleets.
CoreMotion's Role in Advancing Autonomous Technology
Textron Systems' CoreMotion robotic control package marks a significant advancement in autonomous technology, particularly in the application of ground vehicles. This system not only enhances the automation capabilities of existing vehicles but also provides modern solutions for military organizations. As military needs evolve, the ability to flexibly integrate autonomous technology will become an important trend for the future. CoreMotion's modular design not only reduces the risks associated with technical integration but also effectively protects investments in existing platforms, making it a viable pathway for organizations looking to expand unmanned capabilities.