University of Arizona engineering students put the finishing touches on their robotic airplane at the International Aerial Robotics Competition at Fort Benning, Ga. Ten teams were competing. Associated Press

Military hopes tests fly high

FORT BENNING, Ga. - College engineering students are flying their high-tech creations this week in the 14th Annual International Aerial Robotics Competition, paving the way for a new generation of surveillance gear that could help soldiers during urban warfare.

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Keith Brock, a University of Arizona student, makes an adjustment to an aircraft. A goal of the competition is to develop unmanned, robotic aircraft that could be used by the military. Associated Press

Their aircraft resemble radio-controlled model airplanes and helicopters that hobbyists fly for amusement, but the ones buzzing around an urban warfare training center at Fort Benning are equipped with global-positioning receivers, gyro compasses and computers that allow them to fly without human intervention.

This year's competition was put on by the Soldier Battle Laboratory at Fort Benning, which develops and tests new high-tech weapons for soldiers.

"It gives us an opportunity to see the cutting edge," said Mike Kennedy, a robotics projects officer at the lab. "These kids are cutting edge. They're doing things the Army can't do yet."

Ten teams, some from as far away as Canada, were represented.

Their goal, set several years ago, is to build a robotic plane that can fly 3 kilometers, pick out a symbol on a building, identify all the open windows and doors, and launch a probe that could send video images of the interior to soldiers a safe distance away.

The first team to accomplish the mission gets $40,000.

None of the teams was expected to reach the ultimate goal this year. The Georgia Institute of Technology team has reached the second of four levels last year: flying autonomously for 3 kilometers and identifying open windows and doors.

Mr. Kennedy said none of the aircraft was expected to launch the video probe this year.

"Possibly next year," he said.

Mike Barnes, a senior robotics engineer at the battle lab, said robotic aircraft have tremendous potential, possibly monitoring traffic and rerouting cars to avoid gridlock, finding missing people and homeland defense.

--From the Friday, July 23, 2004 printed edition of the Augusta Chronicle