23 JANUARY 2020 | TWICKENHAM STADIUM LONDON

Near-peer competitors have taken concerted action to develop their indigenous robotics and autonomous systems (RAS), by
developing long-range, precise, smart and stealthy unmanned weapons platforms. We are now seeing new autonomous land
programmes spring to life across NATO and partner nations in response. By harnessing disruptive technologies in AI and Robotics, the
nature of armoured manoeuvre has changed – with it becoming increasingly clear that any conversation about the unmanned can no
longer be had, without considering human-machine teaming also.

Led and moderated by the Robotics Requirements Branch of U.S. Army Futures Command, the Unmanned Ground Vehicles
conference provides a dedicated platform to compliment discussions at International Armoured Vehicles and deep dive into the world of
autonomous land systems.

Discussion topics during the conference will include:

 Human-machine teaming and changing the way we fight

 Building & controlling AI and how to achieve verifiable and trusted standards
 Reducing the cognitive load
 Sensor fusion, multi-functional vehicles and operationalising the technology
 Cyber security issues: Resilience requirements across flexible systems and different payloads
 Managing information and the software code within a kill chain
 Information integration across radios, cameras, sensor systems and remote weapon systems
 Different autonomy needs across air defence, troop support, engineer tasks, engineering/bridging

Why attend?

 Analyse how future forces will apply RAS technologies in conjunction with next generation doctrine and tactical formations
 Meet with the responsible stakeholders from across the alliance who are designing, testing and integrating autonomous
technologies into the wider force
 Gain valuable insights into CONOPS that will serve as the base line for future operations in multi-dimensional environments

This is an important opportunity for both traditional and non-traditional defence industry partners to receive feedback, updates and initial
requirements for robotics and autonomous systems efforts from across the alliance.

EARLY CONFIRMED SPEAKERS INCLUDE

 Colonel Marc Espitalier, Coordinating Officer, Army Staff Capability, Artificial Intelligence - Robotic & Autonomous Systems,
French Army
 Lieutenant Colonel (GS) Armin Dirks, Planning Division II, Land Systems Roadmap Group, German Ministry of Defence
 Lieutenant Colonel Nicholas Serle, SO1 Lt Forces, Close Combat, Ground Manoeuvre Capability, Army HQ, British Army
 Cory Wallace, Robotic Combat Vehicle Lead, NGCV CFT, U.S. Army Futures Command
 Major Martijn Hadicke, Commander, Robot Autonomous Systems Cell, 13th Light Infantry Brigade, Royal Netherlands
Army
 Major Jeroen Franssen, Innovation Manager, Belgian Army
 Product Lead Robotic Combat Vehicle, PM Next Generation Combat Vehicle (NGCV), PEO-GCS, U.S. Army
 Melanie Rovery, Editor UGVs, Jane’s
 Ted Maciuba, P.E., Deputy Director of Robotics Requirements, Maneuver Capability Development Integration Directorate,
U.S. Army Futures Command (Chairman)
 23 JANUARY 2020 | UNMANNED GROUND VEHICLES CONFERENCE
REGISTRATION & COFFEE

0850 CHAIRMAN’S OPENING REMARKS

Ted Maciuba, P.E., Deputy Director of Robotics Requirements, Maneuver Capability Development Integration Directorate, U.S. Army
Futures Command

0900 DISCUSSION: HUMAN-MACHINE TEAMING AND CHANGING THE WAY WE FIGHT

 Broadly, how do you see unmanned platforms and RAS transforming the battlefield- in the next 5, 10 & 20 years?
 What do you see as the biggest roadblock / main challenges for fielding different types of UGVs in the near-term?
 How can industry support efforts to accelerate deliver of unmanned and autonomous technologies?
 The ethical question and communicating the realities of robotic combat vehicles

EARLY CONFIRMED DISCUSSANTS

Lieutenant Colonel (GS) Armin Dirks, Planning Division II, Land Systems Roadmap Group, German Ministry of
Defence
Product Lead Robotic Combat Vehicle, PM Next Generation Combat Vehicle (NGCV), PEO-GCS, U.S. Army

0940 INSIGHT INTO U.S. ARMY’S PROJECT QUARTERBACK

Providing Commander’s with a big picture view of all sensors, shooters and units so that the CO can make a rapid AI supported based
decision

Kevin Mills, Associate Director for Ground Vehicle Robotics, CCDC, GVSC, U.S. Army (Invited)

1010 U.S. ARMY ROBOTIC COMBAT VEHICLE UPDATE

 RCV/MET-D Experimental Prototype Schedule & Observations

 The RCV (L) is a reconnaissance platform that can covertly infiltrate to a position and leverage its robust sensor package to
establish situational awareness
 The RCV (M) enables the commander to attrite and suppress a threat with unmanned vehicles prior to the first human contact, thus
reducing risk
 The RCV (H) aggressive maneuvers alongside its human counterpart and destroys all threat targets with its on-board weapon
system

Major Cory Wallace, Robotic Combat Vehicle Lead, NGCV CFT, U.S. Army Futures Command

1040 MORNING COFFEE AND NETWORKING

1110 THE ARMY WARFIGHTING EXPERIMENT: AUTONOMOUS WARRIOR

Pushing the boundaries of technology and military capability, testing a range of prototype systems by putting them in the hands of the user
while giving invaluable military feedback to industry

Lieutenant Colonel Nicholas Serle, SO1 Lt Forces, Close Combat, Ground Manoeuvre Capability, Army HQ, British Army

1140 FRENCH CONSIDERATIONS FOR LEVERAGING AI & AUTONOMOUS CAPABILITY

Colonel Marc Espitalier, Coordinating Officer, Army Staff Capability, Artificial Intelligence - Robotic & Autonomous Systems, French Army

1210 DISCUSSION: ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND CYBER SECURITY

 Building & controlling AI and how to achieve verifiable and trusted standards
 Reducing the cognitive load
 Accountability, assurance and safety: Certification challenges and the probability of a fatal event as a benchmark
 Resilience challenges and how to harden AI
 Progression debate and technological maturity
 Cyber security issues: Resilience requirements across flexible systems and different payloads
 Managing information and the software code within a kill chain

EARLY CONFIRMED DISCUSSANTS

Major Jeroen Franssen, Innovation Manager, Belgian Army
1300 NETWORKING LUNCH

1400
EXPEDIENT LEADER-FOLLOWER UPDATE
Major Andrew Scruggs, Military Lead for Expedient Leader-Follower, CCDC, GVSC, U.S. Army (Subject to Final Confirmation)

1430 NDL RAS/UGV ACHIEVEMENTS AND SUCCESSES SO FAR

 Overview of current achievements and progress

 Feedback from patrolling exercises and testing – key lessons learned
 Developing future CONOPS for ISR, target acquisition, patrol, guarding and logistical operations

Major Martijn Hadicke, Commander, Robot Autonomous Systems Cell, 13th Light Infantry Brigade, Royal Netherlands Army

1500 DISCUSSION: SENSOR FUSION, MULTI-FUNCTIONAL VEHICLES AND OPERATIONALISING THE TECHNOLOGY

 Autonomous chassis and mission system payloads

 Remote control of sub-systems
 Information integration across radios, cameras, sensor systems and remote weapon systems
 Different autonomy needs across air defence, troop support, engineer tasks, engineering/bridging
 Interoperability and building architecture to swap payloads between vehicles
 Coalition assured Autonomous resupply (CAAR)
 What is the optimal force mix between robotics & manned/sensor & robotics and how can we use experiments and wargaming to
find out?

EARLY CONFIRMED DISCUSSANTS

Major Jeroen Franssen, Innovation Manager, Belgian Army

1540 CHAIRMAN’S CLOSING REMARKS

Ted Maciuba, P.E., Deputy Director of Robotics Requirements, Maneuver Capability Development Integration Directorate, U.S. Army
Futures Command

1600 AFTERNOON COFFEE & NETWORKING

END OF CONFERENCE