Army Testing (9.6 ton) Autonomous Robot Vehicle

[unhappycamper]

Army Testing Autonomous Robot Vehicle
June 04, 2010
Army News Service|by Kris Osborn and Andrew Kerbrat

ARLINGTON, Va. - The U.S. Army's Autonomous Platform Demonstrator, or APD, is a 9.6-ton, six-wheeled, hybrid-electric robotic vehicle currently undergoing developmental and mobility testing at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md.; the demonstrator vehicle represents the state of the art in unmanned ground vehicle mobility technology.

With its advanced hybrid-electric drive train, the 15-foot-long vehicle, being developed by the U.S. Army Tank Automotive Research, Development and Engineering Center, or TARDEC, can achieve speeds of over 50mph.

When equipped with its autonomous navigation system, the APD is configured with GPS waypoint technology, an inertial measurement unit and computer algorithms which enable it to move autonomously at speeds up to 50mph while avoiding obstacles in its path.

"The vehicle has obstacle detection and avoidance technology," said Dr. Jim Overholt, senior research scientist in robotics, Tank Automotive Research, Development and Engineering Center.

The mobility testing is aimed at advancing and developing the robot's ability to maneuver at higher speeds while maintaining extreme terrain-ability at lower speeds.

[leveymg]

1. They're already in service - photo:

[FLPanhandle]

2. The technology is interesting and it'll save lives.

Some people here will complain, but as someone who was shot at in Vietnam many times, I'm all for anything that does the job without risking lives.