Ground Technology

The Ground Technology program is designed to advance the Army's capabilities in ground movement, maneuver, and protection. It aligns with the Army's modernization priorities by focusing on technologies essential for the Next Generation of Combat Vehicles. Research and development efforts are conducted by various Army research centers and laboratories, including the Army Research Laboratory, Chemical Biological Center, and Ground Vehicle Systems Center. The program supports projects that address different aspects of ground technology, such as robotics, materials research, and environmental security resilience.

One key project within this program is Robotics for Engineer Operations Technology. This project aims to enhance robotic capabilities to reduce risks for Soldiers and Combat Engineers during critical operations. It focuses on developing semi-autonomous systems capable of shaping environments through physical interactions like pushing, pulling, lifting, or digging. Additionally, it emphasizes creating mission planners and task execution controllers that can adapt to real-time updates from site models and hardware agents.

Another significant project is Materials and Manufacturing Research Technology. This initiative seeks to integrate materials research with manufacturing processes to produce high-quality additive manufacturing products for Army applications. It involves developing high-performance feedstock materials and physics-based process models to optimize material properties for protection, maneuverability, and power applications. The project also explores advanced manufacturing techniques for creating lightweight armor materials and energy storage solutions.

The Environmental Security Resilience Tech project focuses on addressing environmental threats impacting Army operations. It investigates meteorological processes and supply-chain security threats to enhance environmental security resilience. The project aims to develop decision support tools that provide actionable information on environmental factors affecting military operations. This includes assessing climate risks and developing models for carbon sequestration across Army lands to improve operational planning and risk management.