Unmanned ground vehicle (UGV) platoon architecture and communications

The operation of an integrated UGV platoon in a hostile communications environment is indeed challenging. Rather than fighting the environment, the approach presented attempts to operate within its limitations; to roll with the flow. Implied in this approach is a loss in performance over the ideal communications environment but a functioning platoon of perhaps lower performance is better than a nonfunctioning platoon. To understand this approach, three background areas must be covered, the UGV platoon reconnaissance mission, the communications environment, and the Joint Architecture for Unmanned Ground Systems (JAUGS) standard.