The Army Research Laboratory will fund new projects to develop autonomous drone and robotic technologies intended for electronic warfare operations, Defense One reported Tuesday.
ARL aims to equip autonomous platforms with onboard tools that will work to counter anti-access/area denial systems as part of the Distributed and Collaborative Intelligent Systems and Technology program.
The laboratory also seeks to leverage discoveries from commercial research on distributed sensors and other connected devices for military use through the Internet of Battlefield Things program.
Philip Perconti, ARL director, said the laboratory wants to create battlefield communications and sensing networks to support operations against adversaries that utilize EW systems.
Perconti added the laboratory could award contracts under both programs later this year.