Logistics Advancement Through Open Architecture Application - Flipbook - Page 9
5: Disposition of Materiel
Figure 6: Light Medium Tactical Vehicle (LMTV) transporting supplies
In a military environment, the 昀椀nal delivery of materiel to the front line, often called the last mile, requires navigation of a contested
and 昀氀uid environment. Autonomous last mile delivery is itself a desired capability and contributes signi昀椀cantly to both the overall
military capability but also to operational momentum – key to taking and maintaining a dominant advantage over our adversaries.
OA enables the mission systems of autonomous delivery vehicles to share technology and more easily interoperate with other
deployed elements of the force. Using common modular mission system components, and a common data model, ensures that
the integration of the delivery system with the information battlespace – essential for the situational awareness necessary to
navigate the environment.
Different environments require their own solution, whether it is to address the geographical nature of the environment, or to
address different challenges in the military threat environment. Autonomous delivery could utilize submersible, surface maritime,
land or air based vehicles; and could deploy in peacetime disaster relief, open con昀氀ict, or covertly. Using OA to develop the core
capability of autonomous last mile delivery presents the opportunity to share the related technologies among very different physical implementations of the delivery system.
These systems offer utility beyond delivery of equipment, fuel and ammunition. They also offer a means to deliver medical supplies
and perform casualty evacuation duties while reducing the risk to life through OA-enabled autonomous technologies.
8
