The SquadBot Team Faces an Exciting New Adventure!

In this second iteration of the CoHoMa Challenge, the Squadbot crew is staking its title with renewed aspirations. An examination of the team’s capabilities and ambitions.

ORIGIN OF THE COHOMA CHALLENGE

The collaborative endeavor between humans and machines initiated by the French Army last year enables companies within the robotics sector to work together and tackle real-world issues that soldiers are likely to face on the battlefield in the years ahead. Guided by the Defense Innovation Agency, the CoHoMa challenge investigates the potential of robotics within the military.

Entrants will have the chance to contribute meaningfully to the discussions prompted by the Vulcan task force, established by the Army in 2021. This challenge aims to leverage advancements in robotics to create a significant operational shift on the battlefield by 2040.

The CoHoMa challenge supports enhancements in SCORPION combat strategies and anticipates the robots that will accompany the TITAN initiative. With its ability to work alongside humans, robotics becomes a pivotal component in the Army’s vision for 21st-century warfare.

In this context, the CoHoMa challenge resumes this year for its second installment.

SQUADBOT: A DYNAMIC AND ADAPTABLE TEAM

Following a successful initial event, the CoHoMa challenge has provided comprehensive feedback on all solutions presented by the Squadbot crew. For Arquus and its collaborators, this was a rare opportunity to align the Army’s perspective on the role of robots in ground operations with the innovations that manufacturers can bring to future military challenges.

As they prepare for CoHoMa II, the Squadbot team reassesses their motivations and ambitions:

Etienne Donga, Arquus’ cinematic designer, expresses that the CoHoMa challenge “aligns with current developments in conflict.” He elaborates: “Today, we understand that simply handing drones to soldiers isn’t necessarily effective. We must consider how to integrate these drones into future combat scenarios and vehicles, because we realize that robots controlled from larger platforms are inevitable. Arquus, as a vehicle manufacturer, plays a vital role.”

Integrating robots into future combat is our foremost challenge – Etienne Donga

For Jean Charles Mamana, Operations Technical Director at Angatec, the CoHoMa challenge presents “an opportunity to showcase our technological components that possess valuable qualities applicable in this context.”

SQUADBOT’S OBJECTIVES FOR COHOMA II

“Similar to the last edition, Squadbot aims to approach the challenge from a grassroots level. In other words, we aim to direct combat strategies from the experiences of each manufacturer before considering how to incorporate robots into these tactics,” Etienne Donga clarifies.

By presenting realistic scenarios, the teams demonstrate to the army that they can be pivotal players in the robotics sector. Practicality is the guiding principle of this challenge; it is essential to showcase what can be effectively applied to combat situations.

As an industrial entity, the CoHoMa challenge provides a valuable platform to align our equipment with real-use cases, addressing all constraints and demands involved

For Etienne Donga, reclaiming the title would be a “remarkable achievement,” while Jean-Charles Mamana notes that defending the title adds a layer of pressure.

EACH PLAYER EXPERT IN THEIR FIELDS

Carmenta emerges as a frontrunner in this challenge, aiming to enhance information collection and communication. Indeed, including Carmenta is part of a quest to mitigate cognitive burden while maximizing information dissemination without overwhelming the various networks, such as radio communications.

Carmenta’s participation strengthens an already formidable team. Angatec contributes its semi-autonomous “tech800” platform for mobility and comprehensive access. Meanwhile, Squadrone provides its professional “Apach” drones. Finally, Carmenta delivers top-notch cartography and a geospatial understanding of the terrain to facilitate optimal communication.

Lastly, Arquus oversees system integration through its “Battle Management System,” an intelligent network that aggregates data collected by satellites surrounding an armored vehicle: the Sherpa Light APC.

DEVELOPMENTS AND FUTURE PROSPECTS

“Robotics is a field of innovation where Arquus is dedicating significant resources. Engaging in the CoHoMa challenge enhances our understanding of this market and bolsters our credibility with the military,” confirms Etienne Donga.

Following several exploratory meetings among the various teams earlier this year, the challenge organized by the Battle Lab Terre will take place from May 10 to June 7, 2023. Fifteen teams will confront real-world scenarios that will test their aerial and/or ground satellite capabilities. The competition promises to be fierce!

Join us in June for the results of this second edition. In the meantime, you can watch the Squadbot team’s evaluations in video: