Neya Systems, a leading provider of off-road autonomy and mission planning software, has announced that David Martin, Principal Robotics Software Engineer, has been appointed as the chair of SAE International’s AS-4 (Unmanned Systems) Steering Committee. This significant role will focus on developing open-architecture standards as unmanned systems progress from teleoperation to autonomy.

The primary goal of the AS-4 committee is to establish standardized interoperability for unmanned systems across military, civil, and commercial domains, utilizing open systems and architecture development. Martin’s responsibilities also include overseeing the work of the AS-4 Joint Architecture for Unmanned Systems (JAUS) committee and the AS-4B task group.

In his new position, Martin will be spearheading the development of interfaces and standards for unmanned air, ground, surface, and undersea systems as they transition into autonomous operation. His objective is to build stronger connections between AS-4 JAUS and the U.S. Army’s Interoperability Profile (IOP), while encouraging increased participation in biannual meetings.

As unmanned systems become more complex, standardized interfaces and well-defined standards are critical for reducing costs and improving software reuse across different platforms. Martin aims to build upon the current progress made in transitioning unmanned systems from teleoperation to increasingly autonomous behaviors.

Martin’s extensive experience in the field, with a specialization in JAUS standards, strengthens his position as the chair of AS-4. Prior to this appointment, he served as the vice chair of both AS-4 and AS-4 JAUS. Martin has also been instrumental in developing multiple JAUS documents and maintaining the JAUS ToolSet, an open-source tool used by academia, government, and industry to generate JAUS-compliant code.

Neya Systems, a division of Applied Research Associates, is committed to advancing the field of unmanned systems through cutting-edge technologies and expertise in autonomy, computer vision, cybersecurity, and general unmanned systems development and deployment. With Martin’s leadership, AS-4 is set to make significant strides in establishing standards for open architecture.

FAQ

1. What is the AS-4 Steering Committee?

The AS-4 Steering Committee is responsible for overseeing the development of standardized interoperability for unmanned systems across military, civil, and commercial domains. It focuses on open systems and architecture development to facilitate seamless communication and integration among different unmanned platforms.

2. What is the role of David Martin in the AS-4 Committee?

David Martin, as the chair of the AS-4 Steering Committee, plays a key role in overseeing the development of interfaces and standards for unmanned systems as they transition into autonomy. His responsibilities also involve fostering collaboration between AS-4 JAUS and the U.S. Army’s Interoperability Profile (IOP) and increasing in-person participation at meetings.

3. Why are standardized interfaces important for unmanned systems?

Standardized interfaces are crucial for unmanned systems as they become more complex. These interfaces provide well-defined guidelines that enable interoperability and software reuse across different platforms. Standardization reduces costs and enhances efficiency in the development and deployment of unmanned systems.