Unmanned Aircraft Systems Roadmap 2005-2030 - Federation of ...

UAS ROADMAP 2005
APPENDIX J: UNMANNED GROUND VEHICLES
JOINT ROBOTICS PROGRAM (JRP)
Origins and UGV Focus
In 1990, at the direction of the Senate Appropriations Committee, the Office of the Secretary of Defense
(OSD) consolidated all of the Services’ Unmanned Ground Vehicle (UGV) projects into the Joint
Robotics Program (JRP). The consolidation allowed OSD to focus the efforts in a single point of
responsibility for the management of funding, to coordinate technology thrusts for research and
development, to identify and resolve common issues, and to leverage the synergy of the projects. OSD
was expected to provide policy and program direction. The FY1990 language stated that OSD should
oversee a consolidated program, concentrate on establishing definitive, robotics operational requirements
and pursue critical technologies to satisfy these requirements.
In FY2003, Congress reaffirmed the program direction and continuing OSD oversight by providing an
additional $24 M in funding and emphasizing the need to “expeditiously test, produce, and field
technologically mature robots and other unmanned vehicles for use in combat.” In FY2004, Congress
added $12.6 M in additional funding to sustain and accelerate program objectives (see Figure J-1).
FY2005 Congressional adds showed continued interest in unmanned systems by increasing the
President’s Budget by $30 M to $55 M. Additionally, Congress, through the FY2005 Authorization,
required that OSD report on the need for one or more national centers of excellence for unmanned aircraft
and ground vehicles, further reinforcing their interest in the long term infrastructure investment strategy
of OSD.
Dollars (Millions)
40
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 03 04 05
Fiscal Year
6.3 6.4
FIGURE J-1. JRP FUNDING HISTORY.
Program Structure
The current management structure of the JRP is shown below in Figure J-2. The JRP stresses cooperation
among program managers (who represent all four Services), the elimination of duplicative efforts, and
ensures information sharing among the geographically dispersed offices. For more information about the
Joint Robotics Program, see the website at: http://www.jointrobotics.com.
APPENDIX J – UNMANNED GROUND VEHICLES
Page J-1