Autonomous Solution for Last-Mile Resupply

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Last-mile resupply, the final chain of the logistics mission involving the delivery of combat supplies such as fuel, ammo, and water to personnel engaged in combat operations is challenging as the environment is typically hostile, complex and contested. These activities need to quickly and efficiently deliver vital supplies in order to maintain operational tempo and enable successful mission outcomes without risking the resupply teams.

An attempt to solve this problem with unmanned systems is underway by the UK MOD. Autonomous unmanned ground vehicle (UGVs) systems designed to deliver supplies to front-line personnel safely will be supplied to the UK’s Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl).

Interested in unmanned vehicles solutions? Attend AUS&R Unmanned Systems and Robotics Conference and Exhibition on September 6, 2020.

The fleet of five UGVs is designed for the MOD’s ‘Project Theseus’ overseeing the development and field testing of autonomous logistic resupply systems. The project was launched following a Dstl-led challenge to look at how autonomous systems could improve ‘last mile’ resupplying.

Dstl awarded contracts worth a total of £5m to HORIBA MIRA and QinetiQ to produce ‘a number of’ UGVs and further the development of autonomous systems under the Ministry of Defence (MOD) Transformation fund.

Dstl autonomy lead Peter Stockel said: “These contracts are a demonstration of the continued commitment to progressing autonomous systems as innovative approaches for developing future Land force logistic capability. Under the Autonomous Last Mile Challenge, we have conducted a number of in-depth trials both in the UK and with our partners in the US,” according to army-technology.com.

“These UGV systems will be used to undertake a series of technical evaluations and user utility assessments with the British Army and other users to rapidly advance MOD’s understanding under the ‘Prototype Warfare’ agenda.”

Interested in unmanned vehicles solutions? Attend AUS&R Unmanned Systems and Robotics Conference and Exhibition on September 6, 2020 at the Lago Conference Center.

For more details and registration