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Contact: Lisa Wright
202-225-2721
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Congressman Roscoe Bartlett Helps Save 118 Jobs at Westminster Robotics Facility
Lay-off Notices Cancelled
Washington,
Oct 21 -
A company official confirmed that Congressman Roscoe Bartlett helped save jobs for 118 employees at the General Dynamics Robotics System (GDRS) facility in Westminster, Maryland that had been threatened with lay-offs. GD announced today that the lay-off notice was cancelled.
Congressman Bartlett said, "It is great, good news that 118 jobs have been preserved at the General Dynamics Robotics System (GDRS) in Westminster. I have been working with Army and GDRS officials as well as my Maryland colleagues throughout the summer to achieve today’s happy announcement that the Army committed the funding to continue development of the Autonomous Navigation System in Westminster. With this funding secured, I am hopeful we can accelerate to installation and deployment of this breakthrough robotics system to allow army ground vehicles to be remotely operated. Just as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) reduce threats to our pilots, a similar capability for ground vehicles could reduce the threat from IEDs that are the #1 source of injuries and deaths for Americans deployed in Afghanistan and Iraq. *A 2009 Army study found that for every 24 fuel supply convoys, a soldier or civilian working in these convoys is killed.”
“Congressman Bartlett’s support was instrumental in preserving the jobs on the Autonomous Navigation System,” said Phil Cory, vice president of General Dynamics Robotic systems. “We appreciate everything Mr. Bartlett did to help keep these talented engineers on the job in Westminster, as well as his ongoing support over the years for all of our programs.”
Background:
The ANS is an integrated system of sensors and technology that enables ground vehicles to operate without human intervention. Using it, vehicles can travel autonomously from place to place, navigate independently and operate in convoys without drivers. Designated by the U.S. Army for integration on the Armed Robotic Vehicle-Assault (Light) (ARV-A(L)), the ANS is capable of controlling several other types of manned and unmanned vehicles. One objective of the system is to help save lives by keeping soldiers out of harm’s way on dangerous missions.
* Photo of a supply convoy in Afghanistan is from “Sustain the Mission Project: Casualty Factors for Fuel and Water Resupply Convoys: Final Technical Report” published by the Army Environmental Policy Institute (AEPI) in September 2009.
http://www.aepi.army.mil/docs/whatsnew/SMP_Casualty_Cost_Factors_Final1-09.pdf
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