GDRS’ core group of robotics engineers,
together since 1985, pioneered the development
of teleoperated and autonomous ground systems.
1991
F&M Manufacturing
incorporated in Hampstead, MD with 2 operating
divisions: F&M
Machine (a machine shop with a 10 year
history) and Robotic Systems Technology
(RST). RST was awarded a $6.3 million
contract to develop the Surrogate Teleoperated
Vehicle (STV) for the Unmanned Ground Vehicle
Joint Program Office. |
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1993
US Army awards development of the Mobile
Detection Assessment and Response – Interior
and then Exterior (MDARS-E) to RST. MDARS
is an autonomous robotic ground vehicle intended
to be used for intruder detection and inventory
control at military sites. |
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|
1994
Awarded contract
from the USPS to manufacture Certified Mail
Detectors used to divert certified mail from
the main mail stream. Currently over
13,000 units have been manufactured and supported
by GDRS. |
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|
1995
US Army awards
$57 million contract for M56/M58 smoke generator.
RST is the design agent, manufacturer, and
support organization for these units. This
was the first smoke-generator upgrade since
the Korean War. |
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|
1998
U.S. Army TACOM
awards $23 million contract for Experimental
Unmanned Vehicle (XUV) System Integration,
part of the DEMO III Unmanned Ground Vehicle
(UGV) Program, including development and
demonstration of small, survivable unmanned
ground vehicles capable of autonomous operation
over rugged terrain as part of a mixed military
force. |
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|
1999
General Dynamics
purchases F&M/RST – company becomes
General Dynamics Robotic Systems |
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2000
US Army awards
follow-on M56/M58 Smoke Generator Build to
Performance Specifications for $34.9M. |
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|
2001
Army Research
Laboratory awards the Collaborative Technology
Alliance – Robotics contract to GDRS.
This contract was created to support critical
research in robotic technologies for application
in Future Combat Systems. $70M+ through
2007. |
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| US Army (TACOM)
awards Vetronics Technology Integration (VTI)
program to General Dynamics Land Systems
and GDRS. This program completed a
successful Unmanned Combat Demonstration
at Ft. Bliss in the first three months of
2003. |
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|
2002
Awarded contract
for additional production of M56 smoke generators
awarded by the US Army. |
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| US Army awards
first exterior autonomous robotic vehicle
program to reach SDD to GDRS. Contract value
is $10M+, with follow-on production options
anticipated. |
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|
2003
Awarded Lead
Technology Integrator for Objective Force
Warrior (OFW), now Future Force Warrior (FFW)
program for the development and demonstration
of revolutionary capabilities for Soldier
systems. |
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| Awarded Autonomous
Navigation System (ANS) – the “intelligence” that
will enable manned and unmanned Army vehicles
of the future to operate autonomously, both
on and off-road. Contract value is
$237M, with a period of performance through
2013. |
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|
2004
Awarded Dismounted
Operations contract by ARL to develop the
Tactical Autonomous Combat-Chassis (TAC-C)
as a testbed to integrate autonomous mobility
capabilities on robotic vehicles which are
optionally man-drivable. TAC-C vehicle variants
include assault, troop transport, emergency
vehicle, command and control, UAV transport
and launcher. |
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| Awarded the Supply
Dispensing System development for DARPA’s
Trauma Pod program to develop new robotic
equipment for far forward medical treatment. |
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2005
Awarded subcontract
on TARDEC’s ART ATO to mature and demonstrate
robotic technologies on a track vehicle to
mitigate risks for the Future Combat Systems
Armed Robotic Vehicle (ARV), Multi-Utility
Logistics and Equipment (MULE), and ANS programs. |
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| Teamed with Aurora
Flight Systems on DARPA’s OAV-II program
to design the OAV’s collision avoidance
system, ground control station, sensor systems
and data links. |
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