Navy opens new research lab

A new laboratory for that will integrate science and technology for research into autonomous system prototypes for the U.S. military has opened. The Laboratory for Autonomous Systems Research was established by the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory in Washington. It brings together scientists and engineers from multiple disciplines to advance defense technology and includes special facilities for research into intelligent autonomy, sensor systems, power and energy systems, human-system interaction, networking and communications and platforms. The laboratory, on the campus of the NRL, features a prototyping high bay for small, autonomous air and ground vehicles; a littoral high bay, complete with a pool and wave generator; a desert high bay with sand and rock walls for testing of robots and sensors in a desert environment; and a tropical high bay, which contains a recreation of a southeast Asian rain forest. Included at the facility is an outdoor test range and electrical and machine shops for construction of prototypes. The lab was officially opened last Friday.