Autonomous Pallet Scanner for Autonomous Supply Point Operations

The Government is seeking proposals to develop, demonstrate, and integrate innovative technologies that will assist in the collection of pallet data to enable autonomous supply point operations. The objective of this technology is to collect pallet metrics such as physical dimensions, weight, and center of gravity. The system will then feed the collected metric data into a supply point software system which will enable the autonomous movement of ammo within a supply point and across the battlefield. The developed prototype should use low cost, easily maintained, highly effective data collection technologies such as LIDAR, SONAR, Lasers, machine vision, strain gauges, etc. This system must also be able to be implemented seamlessly into supply point operations so there is minimal impact on the operations themselves. The sensors will be utilized in a rugged combat environment, so emphasis will be placed on ease of maintenance, low developmental cost, and quick processing and transfer of metric data. The main focus of this enabler will be ammunition, but other classes of supplies will also benefit from this technology as well. The system must also be able to demonstrate that it would be more cost effective for it to perform the aforementioned tasks than a soldier.