REPORT ON DEVELOPMENT AND USE OF ROBOTICS AND UNMANNED GROUND VEHICLE SYSTEMS.

SEC. 261. REPORT ON DEVELOPMENT AND USE OF ROBOTICS AND UNMANNED GROUND VEHICLE SYSTEMS.(a) Report Required.—Not later than nine months after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report on the development and utilization of robotics and unmanned ground vehicle systems by the Department of Defense.(b) Elements.—The report required by subsection (a) shall include the following:(1) A description of the utilization of robotics and unmanned ground vehicle systems in current military operations.(2) A description of the manner in which the development of robotics and unmanned ground vehicle systems capabilities supports current major acquisition programs of the Department of Defense.(3) A description, including budget estimates, of all Department programs and activities on robotics and unmanned ground vehicle systems for fiscal years 2004 through 2012, including the Joint Robotics Program and other programs and activities relating to research, development, test and evaluation, procurement, and operation and maintenance.(4) A description of the long-term research and development strategy of the Department on technology for the development and integration of new robotics and unmanned ground vehicle systems capabilities in support of Department missions.(5) A description of any planned demonstration or experimentation activities of the Department that will support the development and deployment of robotics and unmanned ground vehicle systems by the Department.(6) A statement of the Department organizations currently participating in the development of new robotics or unmanned ground vehicle systems capabilities, including the specific missions of each such organization in such efforts.(7) A description of the activities of the Department to collaborate with industry, academia, and other government and nongovernmental organizations in the development of new capabilities in robotics and unmanned ground vehicle systems.(8) An assessment of the short-term and long-term ability of the industrial base of the United States to support the production of robotics and unmanned ground vehicle systems to meet Department requirements.(9) An assessment of the progress being made to achieve the goal established by section 220(a)(2) of the Floyd D. Spence 119 STAT. 3187 National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2001 (as enacted into law by Public Law 106–398; 114 Stat. 1654A–38) that, by 2015, one-third of operational ground combat vehicles be unmanned.(10) An assessment of international research, technology, and military capabilities in robotics and unmanned ground vehicle systems.(11) A description of the role and placement of the Joint Robotics Program in the Department.(12) A description of the mechanisms of the Department for coordinating pre-systems development and demonstration funding for robotics and unmanned ground vehicle systems.