US Navy’s Bomb Disposal Robots To Use Rockwell Collins’ MicroGRAM GPS Receivers

Rockwell Collins will provide up to 2,000 of its MicroGRAM GPS receivers for integration in Neya’s Autonomous Behavior Capability Module, in support of Increment 1 of the Naval Surface Warfare Center’s Advanced Explosive Ordnance Disposal Robotic System (AEODRS).

“MicroGRAM provides the US Navy’s AEODRS program the small, embedded, secure GPS necessary to ensure mission success,” said Mike Jones, vice president and general manager of Communication, Navigation and Electronic Warfare Solutions for Rockwell Collins. “MicroGRAM continues to be selected for a variety of military platforms as the need to protect against jamming and spoofing threats is growing rapidly.”

MicroGRAM is the smallest, lightest, lowest powered SAASM-based GPS receiver. It enables military micro-users who require secure Position, Navigation & Timing (PNT) to comply with U.S. DoD policy that all combat and combat support systems use SAASM-based GPS devices.

Jones added that MicroGRAM’s capability is critical at a time when threats to commercial GPS are increasing.

“The use of unprotected commercial non-SAASM GPS devices has inherent vulnerabilities which introduce a false sense of situational awareness on the battlefield,” said Jones.

Increment One of the AEODRS program is the first of three that will be fielded. The program worked with industry to understand the technical challenges associated with a family of open architecture robots. The Navy leads this joint program to develop a family of explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) robotics for all the U.S. services.