DARPA develops modular solutions for disaster relief missions

DARPA is developing modular solutions that can transform commercial container ships into floating supply bases during disaster relief operations, without the need of port infrastructure.

DARPA programme manager Scott Littlefield said: "To allow military ships and aircraft to focus on unique military missions they alone can fulfill, it makes sense to develop technologies to leverage standard commercial container ships, used around the world daily, as a surge capacity for extended humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations."

The first phase of the programme, also known as Tactically Expandable Maritime Platform (TEMP) programme, has been completed by DARPA and involves development of four key modular systems, all of which are transportable using standard 20ft or 40ft commercial shipping containers.

Under the TEMP programme, the container ship would anchor offshore of a disaster area, and the ship’s crew would make use of DARPA-developed, modular on-board cranes and air- and sea-delivery vehicles to deliver supplies ashore.

The modular systems include a core support module that provide electrical power, berthing, water and other life-support requirements for an augmented crew aboard the container ship as well as motion-stabilized cranes to enable transfer of cargo containers at sea from the ship deck over the side and onto a sea-delivery vehicle.

DARPA has also developed Captive Air Amphibious Transporter (CAAT), a sea-delivery vehicle that has air-filled pontoons on a tank tread-like design to carry containers over water and directly onto shore.

Parafoil unmanned air-delivery system has also been designed by DARPA, which is a low-cost, propeller-driven air vehicle that uses a parachute for lift and carries urgent supplies from the container ship to stricken areas on shore.