Marines will use touchscreen tablets to control military delivery drones

There’s been a series of delivery drone concepts brought forth in the past year: Domino’s Pizza delivery drones, Amazon delivery drones, and even drones that deliver sushi. Now here’s a more serious delivery drone.

Thanks to the Office of Naval Research, the next step in support for Marine Corps military troops on missions is a robot helicopter, or Robocopter, that would be completely autonomous, but still capable of all the things a manned helicopter can do.

MH-6 Little Bird helicopter equipped with the Autonomous Aerial Cargo/Utility System technology lifts off during demonstration.
(U.S. Navy photo by John F. Williams)

Not only would it be autonomous, but it would also be controlled with just a touchscreen tablet.

The technology will enable the Marine Corps to rapidly re-supply forces on the front lines.

The system consists of a sensor and software package that would be integrated into rotary wing aircraft to detect and avoid obstacles in poor weather conditions or just enable simple unmanned flight.

Eventually such technology will replace dangerous convoys, manned aircraft, or airdrops in poor weather conditions.

“Imagine a Marine unit needing more ammunition and water where a helicopter crew would be in peril trying to fly in, either from weather or enemy fire,” said Rear Adm. Matthew Klunder, Chief of Naval Research.

A Marine can use a tablet to pick out an optimal route and landing site closest to the warfighters so that the Robocopter can take supplies from the base, drop them off, and return safely.

Lance Cpl. Cody Barss uses a handheld tablet to request resupply during a demonstration.

(U.S. Navy photo by John F. Williams)

All the technology requires is an operator with minimal training to call up the supplies needed and order the flights with the device.

In demonstration conducted a Quantico, a Marine with no prior experience was given the handheld device and 15 minutes of training and was able to quickly and easily get the supplies to the destination.

Why need a Robocopter?

The need for such technology arose during Marine Corps operation in Afghanistan and Iraq when cargo helicopters and convoys full of supplies heading to the front lines were faced with fire from adversaries or became frequent targets of roadside bombs.

“Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos has discussed using drones to deliver a customer’s book order in 30 minutes. We’re talking the same concept here—the difference is, we’re bringing our customer, the Marine, 5,000 pounds of ammo and water instead,” said Klunder.

For more information visit the Office of Naval Research website.