Milrem demonstrates autonomous capabilities
During recent autonomy demonstrations, a THeMIS UGV from Milrem Robotics followed a human operator walking a path featuring obstacles.
In another, an operator-controlled one UGV and set a second vehicle to follow it between two waypoints. The second THeMIS was then commanded to turn back using Milrem’s Intelligent Functions Integration Kit’s (MIFIK) Mission Planner.
En route, an operator stepped into the path of the UGV, triggering is obstacle detection sensors, bringing the vehicle to a stop. After the obstruction was cleared, the UGV continued on its way.
Milrem Robotics defence R&D director Jüri Pajuste said: ‘Intelligent functions are a crucial part of unmanned systems as they allow soldiers to concentrate on their mission rather than focusing on operating the system.
‘Unmanned ground systems with follow-me, return home, and point-to-point navigation functionalities considerably enhance the fighting capability of units,’
Milrem CEO Kuldar Väärsi said MIFIK would be delivered to ‘several’ THeMIS operators this year. From 2022, certified autonomous functions would form part of the basic THeMIS configuration.
During the broader iMUGS demonstration, project partners showcased THeMIS deploying alongside the KMW Boxer APC and a tethered UAS.
Seven EU member states, Estonia, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Latvia, and Spain, set the requirements for iMUGS.
More from Land Warfare
-
New Estonian night vision devices to help against “significantly” larger enemy
Argus is a family of Mil-Spec I2 multipurpose monocular systems that can be operated handheld or head-, helmet- or weapon-mounted.
-
Hero-120 loitering munitions to be made in US
Hero-120, a loitering munition system fitted with a 4.5kg warhead, has been designed to carry out strikes against mid-range targets. In June 2021, the US Marine Corps announced the Hero-120 had been selected for its Organic Precision Fire Mounted (OPF-M) programme.
-
Patria orders Kongsberg Protector’s for common APCs
Patria developed the Patria 6x6 APC, unveiled at the June 2018 Eurosatory exhibition, as a successor to the XA-series Pasi APC and was selected for the Common Armoured Vehicle System (CAVS) programme.
-
Germany orders more Patriot air defence systems
The US Army has acquired more than 1,100 launchers of which it has exported at least 200 launchers, while more than 10,000 Patriot missiles have been produced to date.
-
Rheinmetall receives EU funding to boost artillery production for Ukrainian war effort
Rheinmetall has contracts to produce hundreds-of-thousands of artillery shells for Ukraine and new funding from the EU will boost the company’s manufacturing capability.
-
General Dynamics to upgrade Ukraine-bound Spanish Leopards
The 120mm-armed Leopard 2 MBT was developed in the 1970s as a replacement for the German Army’s 105mm Leopard 1s. Spain's fleet of Leopard 2A4s were originally leased from Germany for five-years but eventually purchased in 2005.