SBIR/STTR Award attributes
The use of unmanned systems in complex combat zones has increased exponentially and increasing the efficiency and effectiveness of these systems will directly increase operational capability. Two key themes identified in the Unmanned Systems Integrated Roadmap 2017-2042 are autonomy and human-machine collaboration. Increased autonomy removes the need for constant human input, freeing operators to perform higher-level tasks or to control multiple unmanned assets simultaneously. The Roadmap claims that "[m]achine-to-machine interactions between autonomous systems will promote efficiencies, especially in complex environments, by enabling self-organization, division of tasking, and the coordination of activities." Warfighters presently use a tablet or joystick to control unmanned systems and must be heads-down, focused on the controller, resulting in decreased situational awareness and increased cognitive load. In collaboration with MIT, Pison proposes a Gesture Library for the Effective Execution of Multiple sUAS (GLEEMs), a project that will create a gesture-based command and control scheme for multiple small unmanned aerial systems (sUAS). Gesture-based control of sUAS offers a naturalistic and intuitive alternative enabling heads-up operation for more efficient and effective drone control. This effort will build an intuitive language from gestures recognized by Pison’s unique wrist-based electroneurography sensor to control one or more sUAS. Rather than require users to issue specific commands to individual drones, the envisioned gestures will convey the desired outcome (e.g., explore a corridor) and a set of novel algorithms developed by MIT will parse the outcome into a series of coordinated tasks for each vehicle. Pison further proposes a collaboration with Air Force Special Warfare operators to explore the benefits of gesture control of multiple sUAS to conduct battlefield reconnaissance/surveillance and close air support. Pison's gesture-based control overcomes the limitations of existing control modalities and allow users to operate heads-up and hands-free for improved performance. "Pison's technology represents not just an improvement, but a game-changing warfighting capability." (Chief, HQ AFSOC sUAS Requirements)
