MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (WMOT) — The United States Army and Marine Corps have signed and agreement with Middle Tennessee State University to study ways robots on the ground can be used in concert with unmanned vehicles in the air.
In announcing the new pact Monday morning, MTSU said the deal is the first of its kind. The agreement expands a partnership between the MTSU Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) program and the U.S. military. Last year the university signed a deal to work on the Army’s remote-controlled Raven aircraft.
“This unique partnership will encourage and enhance our studies of this developing technology,” said MTSU President Sidney A. McPhee.
MTSU’s UAS Program Director Mark Blanks explained that the partnership will research ways for air- and ground-based robotic systems to communicate and work with each other.
MTSU will benefit from access to equipment provided by the Robotic Systems Joint Project Office. The Army and Marines will also assist the university in developing related classroom materials, and involve faculty and students in defense research projects.
“Our partnership provides us the opportunity to enhance the capabilities of today's soldier and tomorrow's commercial markets," Blanks said.