Unmanned Vehicle Replaces Soldiers in Transportation and Rescue Missions

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A multipurpose unmanned vehicle can serve as a transportation platform carrying a squad’s gear, a remote weapon station equipped with small or large caliber weapons, IED detection and disposal platform and much more. The vehicle has also been developed for the commercial sector aimed at industries such as mining, mobile off-road mapping, search and rescue etc.

The open architecture UGV THeMIS (Tracked Hybrid Modular Infantry System) is manufactured by the Estonian unmanned systems technology company Milrem. The THeMIS is a fully customizable unmanned ground vehicle featuring a diesel-electric hybrid drive, has a payload of 750kg/1650lbs and a top speed of 24km/h / 15mph. However, its most innovative feature is the ability for a rapid configuration that allows it to take the form of several mission-specific solutions.

According to roboticstomorrow.com, the UGV was launched last October in cooperation with QinetiQ North America. The joint product has been equipped with QNA’s UGV control technology – the Tactical Robot Controller (TRC) and Robotic Appliqué Kit (RAK). This vehicle, codenamed Titan, is aimed at the Squad Multipurpose Equipment Transport (SMET) program initiated by the US Army.

The UGV has been developed meeting requirements detailed in the Army’s Robotic and Autonomous Systems Strategy. “It will significantly reduce warfighter workload, serve as a force multiplier and increase situational awareness,” explained Kuldar Väärsi, the CEO of Milrem.

Milrem specializes in military and commercial engineering, repair and maintenance.