New UAS-UGV teaming demo
Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) and Sikorsky have participated in a joint autonomy demonstration to prove the capability of new ground-air cooperative missions, CMU announced on 20 January.
The team used a UH-60MU Black Hawk helicopter enabled with Sikorsky’s Matrix Technology autonomy kit, and CMU’s Land Tamer Unmanned Ground Vehicle (UGV) for the demonstration.
The aircraft picked the UGV and flew a 12 mile route, delivered it to a ground location and released it.
Using its onboard chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) sensors to detect simulated dangers, the UGV autonomously navigated for over six miles, delivering information to a remote ground station. It was teleoperated to explore dangerous sites in detail when neccessary.
The collaboration demonstrated the effectiveness of unmanned systems in addressing logistics needs in dangerous and unknown environments, with the aim of preventing warfighters’ exposure to dangerous conditions such as radiologically or chemically contaminated areas.
Paul Rogers, director, US Army Tank Automotive Research, Development and Engineering Center (TARDEC), said: ‘The teaming of UAVs and UGVs, as demonstrated here, has enormous potential to bring the future ground commander an adaptable, modular, responsive and smart capability that can evolve as quickly as needed to meet a constantly changing threat. The cooperative effort between the army labs, academia and industry to bring solutions to the warfighter is exciting to see.’
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
More from Uncrewed Vehicles
-
![The shift away from Chinese drone technology presents supplier opportunities]()
The shift away from Chinese drone technology presents supplier opportunities
As countries increasingly move away from Chinese drone manufacturing and focus on domestic production and collaboration, Europe and the US are well-placed to step in – although cost remains a crucial consideration.
-
![What’s next for the Pentagon after the Replicator programme?]()
What’s next for the Pentagon after the Replicator programme?
Although the Replicator initiative has made several accomplishments, there are still multiple gaps to plug across the US Department of Defense (DoD) and its services.
-
![Cummings Aerospace showcases Hellhound loitering munition designed for US Army’s LASSO programme (video)]()
Cummings Aerospace showcases Hellhound loitering munition designed for US Army’s LASSO programme (video)
Cummings Aerospace presented its turbojet-powered Hellhound loitering munition at SOF Week 2025, offering a man-portable solution aligned with the US Army’s LASSO requirements.
-
![SOF Week 2025: PDW unveils attritable FPV drone for SOF operations at scale]()
SOF Week 2025: PDW unveils attritable FPV drone for SOF operations at scale
PDW has revealed its Attritable Multirotor First Person View drone at SOF Week 2025, offering special operations forces a low-cost, rapidly deployable platform for strike and ISR missions, inspired by battlefield lessons from Ukraine.
-
![SOF Week 2025: Teledyne FLIR white paper provides guidance on reusable loitering munitions]()
SOF Week 2025: Teledyne FLIR white paper provides guidance on reusable loitering munitions
Teledyne FLIR is highlighting the emerging requirements for 'recoverable and re-usable' loitering munitions across the contemporary operating environment during this week’s SOF Week conference in Tampa, Florida.
-
![SOF Week 2025: Kraken Technology group debuts K3 Scout USV in North America]()
SOF Week 2025: Kraken Technology group debuts K3 Scout USV in North America
High-performance maritime industry player Kraken Technology Group, based in the UK, has used the SOF Week conference in Tampa, Florida this week to debut its K3 Scout uncrewed surface vessel (USV) to the North American market.
