Joint Robotics Program

Abstract

Sun Tzu wrote first about the importance of logistics over two thousand years ago (Griffith, 1963, pp. 72, 74), followed by Von Clauswitz 150 years ago who again echoed the importance of logistics to overall mission success (Greene, 1943, pp. 136, 179); now, logistics is a Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act functional area. Since Sun Tzu, much literature, many experiments, lessons learned, and the DoD's continual searching for better logistics answers have stressed the continued importance of getting the right things to the right place at the right time. Much like human transportation history evolution beginning first with people walking or running from point a to point b, followed by thousands of years being transported by real horse power, then automobiles, airplanes, and rockets logistics too has progressed over the years: focusing first on Mass-based Supply, then Just-in-Time Supply Chain Management, and now on Sense and Respond logistics.