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Robotic Combat Vehicles
Putting the Brains Behind the Brawn

new era of Robotic Combat Vehicles (RCV) is cameras to provide 360-degree situational awareness sup-
about to begin. The U.S. Army is getting ready port, Ripsaw M5 can also carry a smaller “marsupial-style”
to evaluate competing candidates to meet re- UGV that can disembark from the host RCV via a ramp. It
Aquirements for light and medium versions of a can also carry drones, like the R80D Skyraider quadcopter.
new class of modular unmanned ground vehicle (UGV). When configured for route clearing/breaching, the Ripsaw
Designed to be controlled in the field via remote control, can deploy an IED detection version of the marsupial UGV,
and in the future, autonomously, these new robot tanks as well as provide ground penetrating radar and additional
have the potential to revolutionize ground warfare. We mine clearing and IED mitigating capabilities. Ripsaw can
witnessed the debut of this emerging class of “robo-tank” also be configured with an array of weapon systems, in-
when the Ripsaw M5 was unveiled by the team of Textron cluding, for example, a medium caliber cannon, and a
Systems, Howe & Howe, and FLIR Systems at the Associa- CROWS-J remote controlled missile launcher that supports
tion of the U.S. Army (AUSA) Conference, in October 2019. Javelin anti-tank missiles.
A couple months later, in January, the Army announced With the emergence of next-generation UGV platforms,
contracts to buy eight experimental RCVs for use in like the Ripsaw M5 shown at AUSA, demand is growing for
wargame tests next year. QinetiQ North America, along open architecture, modular processing and networking so-
with its partner Pratt & Miller, was selected to provide four lutions able to adapt to these varying missions, while min-
of their EMAV robots (Expeditionary Modular Au- imizing size, weight and power (SWaP) demands on fuel
tonomous Vehicles). Textron was tapped to provide four of and battery power. Low-SWaP COTS-based mission com-
the Ripsaw M5s. puters and network switch subsystems can deliver the re-
Textron’s booth at a recent AUSA (Association of the quired performance today, while minimizing the impact
United States Army) trade show, just a couple booths away on the UGV’s mission duration or distance. Another de-
from our own, gave us a good look at their electric-diesel sign consideration for this new class of ground vehicle is
hybrid motor-powered Ripsaw M5 prototype. The Ripsaw the Army’s VICTORY initiative, which is based on two
embraces a ground-breaking scalable approach that uses ubiquitous networks, CANbus and Ethernet. Use of the
common components and common drive systems. This VICTORY architecture helps these platforms reduce SWaP,
enables the same RCV platform to be configured as needed eliminate vetronics redundancy, foster interoperability,
to satisfy a wide range of mission requirements, with op- and deploy new capabilities.
tions such as different payloads and suspension packages. Ideal for deployment on these RCVs are newly emerging
This modular approach enables the RCV to address real- rugged ultra-small form factor (USFF) subsystems that pro-
time situational awareness, route clearing/breaching and vide mission computer functionality and the network
weapon system applications. switch/routing backbones for onboard electronics to com-
In addition to hosting integrated FLIR sensor technol- municate with each other. Mature, high technology readi-
ogy, including electro-optical and infrared night vision ness-level (TRL) super compact COTS-based mission com-

18 www.aerodefensetech.com Aerospace & Defense Technology, May 2020