US Navy stands up hub to prepare unmanned systems for combat

The U.S. Navy announced Thursday a new development center that will train sailors to use autonomous technology in preparation for robotic systems to deploy across the entire fleet.

The service established the Robot and Autonomous Systems Warfighting Development Center at Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek, Virginia, ushering in a new era that will teach service members to be technically proficient while developing and fielding new combat-ready robotic systems.

“A prototype is not combat power,” Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Daryl Caudle said in a C-NOte message . “Combat power comes when a trained sailor can employ a reliable system, supported by the right networks, logistics, maintenance, software, tactics, authorities, and command relationships, to create an operational effect.”

The new center provides a place to work on autonomous system integration so that by the time sailors in the fleet get their hands on the technology, it is ready to be used.

RASWDC will first focus on training sailors at the center to understand the systems enough to employ them in combat, while developing a broader system for teaching that can be disseminated through the entire Navy to help service members learn the technology.

The center will help create warfighting concepts that delineate strict guidelines for how commanders build mission plans and set frameworks for autonomous systems to operate within. These guidelines become especially important when systems are forced to operate in combat environments where communication between robotic technology and the human in the loop is compromised.

RASWDC will also test emerging systems in environments that mimic those in which they will be deployed. Technology will be asked to perform at sea, under stress, against simulated threats and during degraded communication environments.

The systems that achieve their goal despite these obstacles will continue to be developed with the end goal of employing them on the battlefield, while others that fail will be retired.

Caudle defined the intended cycle as field, employ, learn, improve and scale.

Caudle released another C-NOte on Sept. 2, calling for the swift integration of lasers and their offensive capabilities into the fleet.

“The question is no longer whether these systems work — it is how quickly we can field them across the fleet and place them in the hands of sailors,” Caudle said.

On Tuesday, the Navy demonstrated a new information-sharing capability that allows it to streamline communication between operators and autonomous aircraft.

Riley Ceder is a Navy reporter at Military Times, where he covers issues directly affecting service members and their families, as well as breaking news.

美国海军周四宣布成立一个新的研发中心，该中心将培训水兵使用自主技术，为机器人系统在整个舰队的部署做好准备。

该军种在弗吉尼亚州小溪联合远征基地建立了机器人和自主系统作战发展中心，开启了一个新时代，该中心将教会军人在开发和部署新的可作战机器人系统的同时，具备精湛的技术能力。

“原型机不等于作战能力，”海军作战部长达里尔·考德尔海军上将在一份C-NOte信息中表示。“作战能力来自于训练有素的水兵能够运用可靠的系统，并辅以正确的网络、后勤、维护、软件、战术、权限和指挥关系，从而产生作战效果。”

新中心提供了一个进行自主系统集成工作的场所，以便舰队中的水兵在接触到这项技术时，它能够立即投入使用。

RASWDC 将首先专注于培训中心的士兵，使他们充分了解这些系统，以便在战斗中使用它们，同时开发一个更广泛的教学系统，该系统可以推广到整个海军，以帮助军人学习这项技术。

该中心将协助制定作战概念，明确指挥官如何制定任务计划以及如何为自主系统运行设定框架的严格准则。当系统被迫在机器人技术与人机交互受损的作战环境中运行时，这些准则尤为重要。

RASWDC还将在模拟实际部署环境中测试新兴系统。测试内容包括海上环境、压力环境、模拟威胁环境以及通信条件恶劣环境下的性能。

那些克服这些障碍并最终实现目标的系统将继续得到开发，最终目标是在战场上应用；而那些失败的系统将被淘汰。

考德尔将预期周期定义为：实地考察、运用、学习、改进和规模化。

考德尔于 9 月 2 日发布了另一份 C-NOte，呼吁迅速将激光武器及其进攻能力整合到舰队中。

考德尔说：“问题不再是这些系统是否有效，而是我们能以多快的速度将它们部署到整个舰队，并交付到水兵手中。”

周二，海军展示了一种新的信息共享能力，该能力可以简化操作员和自主飞机之间的通信。

Riley Ceder 是《军事时报》的海军记者，他负责报道直接影响军人及其家属的问题以及突发新闻。