Introduction

Robot evolution is at an important crossroads -- developers need a better appreciation for “mission relation” and operators want to better understand the technology.  The 2011 NDIA Ground Robotics Capabilities Conference is the place to advance a shared understanding. This year’s theme is “Saving Lives, Saving $ - Are Robot Recruits the Answer?” The purpose of this conference is to bring together warfighters and homeland security users, technology developers (government, industry and academia), and acquisition professionals to address increased responsiveness to user needs.  This conference will also provide a forum for the exchange of information, ideas and methodologies to provide U.S. forces with unmanned ground technologies. A series of panels and speakers will present a wide array of thought provoking insights from diverse perspectives. 

Theme Details- “Saving Lives, Saving $ - Are Robot Recruits the Answer?”

A new initiative from the Secretary of Defense stresses efficiencies throughout the Department.  The Secretary is looking to streamline processes and reorganize organizations while engaging in more cost effective and efficient activities.  The Secretary's goal is to achieve these efficiencies while still providing improved capabilities to our Warfighters, which makes them more effective while also providing them with greater protection.  The theme of this Conference is to consider whether robots are a solution to keeping Warfighters, whether within the Department of Defense or as a First Responder, safer through greater protection and increased capabilities. This also potentially reduces the number of personnel placed in harm's way, all while reducing cost.  The Conference will investigate what roles unmanned ground systems can play in gaining efficiencies, what capabilities the systems can provide, and how the Department can measure these contributions.