The Robotics Technology Consortium Inc. announced its launch with more than 70 initial organizations. The consortium was established to meet a need identified by the Office of the Secretary of Defense Joint Ground Robotics Enterprise (OSD/JGRE) and held its first member meeting on Friday, June 20 in Arlington, Va.
The RTC was created to support top-tier research within the robotic technology community to speed the deployment of technology from the lab to operational deployment. To meet this goal the RTC consists of traditional and non-traditional government contractors, small and large businesses, for-profit and not-for-profit entities, and academic organizations. Members will perform R&D and provide input on strategies for government agencies executing ground robotics programs.
"Ground robots are proven life savers for our service members and industry has offered a first class response to our need for advancing robotics with the establishment of this consortium," said Ellen Purdy, enterprise director, Joint Ground Robotics. "The Department looks forward to partnering with the RTC as it enables us to work with the best and brightest in industry and academia."
The RTC has been formed as a non-profit, supporting organization of the National Center for Manufacturing Sciences in Ann Arbor. NCMS will also serve as the RTC administrative agent.
"The National Center for Manufacturing Sciences has been successfully commercializing innovative technology for more than 20 years," said Rick Jarman, president and CEO of NCMS, and the interim Chairman of the RTC. "We are pleased to have the more than seventy members of the Robotics Technology Consortium join us as we drive innovations to improve the safety of our warfighters and the security of our nation."
Membership to the Robotics Technology Consortium is open. The RTC has entered into an Other Transactions Agreement with the Government to better enable nontraditional defense contractors to undertake technical projects on behalf of the government.
More at www.roboticstechc.org or www.ncms.org.
E-Mail Story
Print Story
