Autonomous Solutions, Inc. Awarded Two TARDEC Contracts for Robotic Systems and Controls Development

LOGAN, Utah, Jan. 31, 2007 -- Autonomous Solutions, Inc., (ASI), a designer and manufacturer of unmanned vehicle systems, software, and components for industrial and military clients, today announced it has been awarded two Phase I, Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) contracts from the US Army's Tank & Automotive Research, Development, and Engineering Center (TARDEC) for advanced robotic system development.

The first contract extends ASI's development of small robotic systems equipped with omni-directional drives with advanced manipulator controls. Ultimately intended for Explosive Ordinance Disposal applications (EOD), the robot developed under this program will be man-portable, travel at high speeds, and feature a three-wheel, omni-directional drive. The platform will also have an integrated non-battery based power system enabling higher speeds and longer missions.

The second contract involves the development of unmanned vehicles with the capability to monitor their own health and adjust their own controls accordingly. Human drivers can compensate for changes in the vehicle's condition such as a damaged tire, reduced engine output, or a change in the vehicle's center of gravity. Such vehicles are improvements on current unmanned vehicles which operate using a static model of the vehicle itself. Under this contract, ASI will develop a dynamic vehicle controller which will use the diagnostic/prognostic data generated by future combat vehicles to give unmanned vehicles more comprehensive intelligence about their own operating condition.

"These two contracts enable ASI to continue introducing leap-ahead technologies into both our small robotic platforms and our larger vehicle automation offerings," says Mel Torrie, CEO of Autonomous Solutions, Inc.

For more information about these and other ASI projects visit www.autonomoussolutions.com.

About Autonomous Solutions, Inc.

Autonomous Solutions is a market leader in vehicle automation, autonomous operations, and JAUS implementation. ASI designs, programs, and manufactures unmanned vehicles for a variety of military and commercial applications. ASI is one of the largest privately held robotics-focused companies in the world -- employing world class computer, electrical, and mechanical engineers and support staff.