TRX is a tracked
unmanned ground vehicle powered by a hybrid-electric drivetrain. It is
semi-autonomous, having the ability to follow broad directions from a human
operator, such as following waypoints and travelling to a predetermined
destination. A user would also remotely engage with whatever payloads it could
be carrying, such as sensor systems or weaponry. Its large, flat top deck can
also just be used to carry cargo around the battlefield. It is configured to
launch dozens of AeroVironment Switchblade 300 and 600 loitering munitions. The
vehicle has two banks of 13 launch tubes for Switchblade 600 drones and two
other arrays, each with 12 tubes capable of launching smaller Switchblade 300s.
When not in use, a tethered quadcopter-type drone is stored inside in this
design variant.
This configuration
presents a combination of reconnaissance and surveillance and strikes
capabilities in a relatively small mobile package that can be used in very
high-risk environments.
The Switchblade series from AeroVironment employs an operator-in-the-loop control scheme. The user "sees" what the drone does as it flies by using feeds from the electro-optical and infrared cameras in its nose. While the drones may be programmed to fly to certain places and automatically follow chosen targets or even strike precise coordinates, the operator can also manually change the path of the drones.
AeroVironment has
addressed the possibility of enhancing autonomous capabilities in the future,
perhaps allowing groups of them to operate collaboratively as a networked
swarm.
The function of the
tethered drone in this TRX setup is unknown. It might, however, offer a signal
relay, allowing it to function considerably ahead of its operators. This may be
especially beneficial in extending the datalink's reach to its loitering
weapons or even ensuring connectivity is available at all in urban and high
terrain environments. Fitting this tethered unmanned aerial system with a set
of video sensors would also allow it to conduct localized surveillance around
the vehicle, as well. If it could be untethered, it could help search for potential
targets, especially those hiding behind cover.