Oshkosh Defence has integrated its TerraMax unmanned ground-vehicle (UGV) technology onto the MRAP all-terrain vehicle (M-ATV), to assist in route-clearance missions and reduce soldiers’ exposure to threats, such as improvised explosive devices (IED).
The development is part of the company’s efforts with the US Office of Naval Research (ONR) cargo UGV project to bring UGV capabilities to logistic convoy missions.
The Pentagon is also planning to procure thousands of UGVs, which would be used by the US Marine Corps to conduct supply-line convoys and missions in combat zones.
The integration of M-ATV and other heavy and medium tactical-wheeled vehicles with TerraMax will enable the autonomous operation of individual or multiple vehicles in a route-clearance convoy.
Oshkosh Defence president John Urias said: "The clearance of threats like IEDs, mines and unexploded munitions pose challenges that global military forces have faced since World War II, and are expected to continue long after Afghanistan.
"Our TerraMax UGV technology can bring autonomous capabilities to existing manned vehicle platforms, like the M-ATV, to remove troops from targeted routes and provide greater standoff distance from explosive threats.
"It also has force-multiplication benefits with one operator controlling several vehicles, so logistics operations can be successfully completed with fewer troops."
Furthermore, counter-IED (C-IED) payloads, including ground-penetrating radar and mine rollers, are being integrated onto the M-ATV to counteract the risk of roadside bombs.
TerraMax enables the equipped vehicles to seamlessly collaborate with manned vehicles and perform missions at full operational tempo.
