Unmanned Ground Vehicles

Unmanned Ground Systems

The integration of Unmanned Ground Systems (UGS) into firefighting and public safety operations is limited. The Center of Excellence for Advanced Technology Aerial Firefighting (CoE) is conducting research to evaluate the use of UGS in Colorado public safety operations. UGS have the potential to be a force multiplier by completing tasks autonomously and thus reducing the demand on personnel. The CoE has conducted tests with one UGS platform in a wildland fire environment and has also researched other platforms.

Honda Autonomous Work Vehicle

At the 2018 Consumer Electronics Show, Honda announced the concept of the Honda Autonomous Work Vehicle. Part of that announcement was an invitation for organizations to submit proposals for development and testing. The CoE provided a research proposal to Honda focused on investigating opportunities in wildland firefighting in Colorado. As a result, Honda and the CoE worked to perform testing in the fall of 2018 on the Lake Christine Fire burn area. This report details that work. The CoE and Honda are currently planning follow-up research in the Fall of 2020. For more information on this project, contact Garrett Seddon, CoE Unmanned Systems Projects Manager. Click on the image to open the full report.