US Army reveals radical new self-driving troop carrier: GXV-T concept can keep soldiers sealed inside and even automatically reconfigure its armour to 'bounce off' missile attacks
- DARPA awarded 8 contracts to a group of defense contractors and research institutes to develop technology
- The Ground X-Vehicle Technology program (GXV-T) will develop an array of technology in four areas for the combat machines: radically enhanced mobility, survivability through agility, crew augmentation and signature management
- DARPA says the US Army and Marine Corps have expressed interest in future GXV-T capabilities
Armored tanks are built to protect, but they weren't designed to manuvere through rough terrain or avoid incoming threats.
New concept vehicles have dropped the extra thick steel padding, allowing future machines to travel over 95 percent of available terrain and with more speed.
Created by the Defense Advanced Research Project Agency (DARPA), the Ground X-Vehicle Technology program is working to produce 'nimble, fast and smart' combat trucks that are able to shield themselves from enemies and deflect targeted missiles.
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A new concept design drops the extra thick steel padding from the machines, allowing the future fighting vehicles to travel over 95 percent of available terrain and with more speed. Created by the Defense Advanced Research Project Agency (DARPA), the Ground X-Vehicle Technology program is working to produce 'nimble, fast, smart' combat trucks that can shield itself and deflect missiles
'DARPA's performers for GXV-T are helping defy the 'more armor equals better protection' axiom that has constrained armored ground vehicle design for the past 100 years,' said Major Christopher Orlowski, DARPA program manager.
DARPA awarded a total of eight contracts to a group of defense contractors and research institutes.
Corporate units include Raytheon, Honeywell International, Ledios, QuinetiQ and Pratt & Miller.
Also in the mix are Carnegie Mellon University, the Southwest Researcher Institute and SRI International.
The Ground X-Vehicle Technology program (GXV-T) will develop an array of technology in four areas for the combat machines: radically enhanced mobility, survivability through agility, crew augmentation and signature management.
The program is looking at new capabilities that will allow the machines to travel up steep slopes and travel around uneven elevations.
For instance, the group has interest in revolutionary wheel/track and suspension technology that would give vehicles access to all type of terrain and move faster on- and off-road.
The contract also includes ways to improve situational and threat detection, as well as technology that provides a 360-view from a control base-- technology used in commercial airline cockpits.
These cutting-edge machines are set to be autonomous, so they will need technology that can recognize incoming threats on their own.
And the program is interested in technology that includes vertical and horizontal movement of armor that can react in real-time to incoming threats, such as missiles.
'DARPA's performers for GXV-T are helping defy the 'more armor equals better protection' axiom that has constrained armored ground vehicle design for the past 100 years, and are paving the way toward innovative, disruptive vehicles for the 21st Century and beyond,' said Major Christopher Orlowski, DARPA program manager
DARPA awarded a total of eight contracts to a group of defense contractors and research institutes. Corporate units include Raytheon, Honeywell International, Ledios, QuinetiQ and Pratt & Miller. Also in the mix are Carnegie Mellon University, the Southwest Researcher Institute and SRI International. Without the heavy steel shells, these vehicles will be much lighter and easier to transport
GXV-T plans to explore ways to provide semi-autonomous driver assistance and the augmentation of key functions.
And although the vehicle will be able to see for miles, it will be designed with infrared, acoustic and electromagnetic stealth capabilities to reduce detectable signatures.
'We're exploring a variety of potentially groundbreaking technologies, all of which are designed to improve vehicle mobility, vehicle survivability and crew safety and performance without piling on armor,' said Major Orlowski.
DARPA says the US Army and Marine Corps have expressed interest in future GXV-T capabilities.
Autonomous machines are the future of the military, as there have been many discussions and plans surrounding autonomous weapons.
And although these futuristic devices would ease the burden for human soldiers, it also poses a threat to our safety and security, experts have warned.
At a recent meeting, researchers said they were concerned these war machines could engage in unethical behavior and become a playground for hackers.
Unlike today's drones, which are entirely controlled by humans, autonomous weapons in the future could potentially select and engage targets on their own.
These concerns, among others, were highlighted at the recent World Economic Forum in Davos, Switerland in January.
'It was one of the concerns that we itemized last year,' Toby Walsh, professor of artificial intelligence (AI) at the school of computer science and engineering at the University of New South Wales, told FoxNews.com.
'Most of us believe that we don't have the ability to build ethical robots.'
The contract will also include ways to improve situational and threat detection, as well as technology that provides a 360-view from a control base-- technology used in commercial airline cockpits. These cutting-edge machines are set to be autonomous, so they will need technology that can recognize incoming threats on their own
The program is looking at new capabilities that will allow the machines to travel up steep slopes and travel around uneven elevations. For instance, the group has interest in revolutionary wheel/track and suspension technology that would give vehicles access to all type of terrain and move faster on- and off-road
'What is especially worrying is that the various militaries around the world will be fielding robots in just a few years, and we don't think anyone will be building ethical robots.'
Others say we are just 'jumping the gun' altogether when talking about an AI revolt.
'For the most part weapons like this don't exist today,' Paul Scharre, senior fellow and director of the Ethical Autonomy Project at the Center for a New American Security, told FoxNews.com.
'Most systems are still fire and forget and even the advanced systems are designed not to choose a target, but to correct to hit the target.'
Scharre, who gave a press note at the World Economic Forum, also mentioned that even though autonomous weapons are not forbidden in war, it will be a challenge to create ones that comply with accepted rules of engagement.
'Even if they could operate lawfully, however, autonomous weapons raise serious moral and ethical challenges. Is it right to give a machine the power over life and death?', he said.
'And finally, even if autonomous weapons would be legal and moral, they may be extremely dangerous.'
The Ground X-Vehicle Technology program (GXV-T) will develop an array of technology in four areas for the combat machines: radically enhanced mobility, survivability through agility, crew augmentation and signature management. The program is looking at new capabilities that will allow the machines to travel up steep slopes and travel around uneven elevations
GXV-T also plans to explore ways to provide semi-autonomous driver assistance and the augmentation of key functions. And although the vehicle will be able to see for miles, it will be designed with infrared, acoustic and electromagnetic stealth capabilities to reduce detectable signatures
'The consequences of a malfunction or enemy hacking of an autonomous weapon could be severe.'
Autonomous weapons are not being used by any nation at the moment, but some have deployed unmanned vehicles in combat zones.
If the security systems safeguarding the autonomous technology can be overridden by hackers, it could cause havoc on the battlefield.
'There have been efforts to harden the data link's encryption to make the connection with the operator more secure,' said Huw Williams, editor of IHS Jane's International Defence Review.
'It remains a concern, no encryption is perfect and there is still the danger that a data link can be broken.'
Hijacking risks will increase as the system becomes more automated, regardless if the platform is still controlled by a human operator.
'We're exploring a variety of potentially groundbreaking technologies, all of which are designed to improve vehicle mobility, vehicle survivability and crew safety and performance without piling on armor,' said Major Orlowski. DARPA said the US Army and Marine Corps have expressed interest in future GXV-T capabilities
'Hoverbikes' piloted by British soldiers and driverless trucks with integrated robotics could supply ammunition to the front line after first trial of its kind
- British Army tests robotic vehicles for the first time during exercise in Michigan
- Integrated robotics are used to deliver front line supplies without risk to soldiers
- Footage shows future of 'autonomous resupply' of ammunition, food and fuel
This futuristic footage shows driverless 4x4s being directed by unseen British soldiers using games console-style controllers in a world first.
The Ministry of Defence yesterday announced it has worked with the US to trial an improved method of transporting food, fuel and ammunition to the front line.
Over the course of a week, 'hoverbikes' and robotic trucks were tested in Michigan for the first time ever.
A convoy of trucks without drivers are piloted in the US as the British Army looks to send supplies to the front line with minimal risk to soldiers
Footage from an exercise three years in the making shows a robotic convoy of trucks race across the vast landscape led by the six-tonne British Army MAN SV.
The truck and the US Light Medium Tactical Vehicles that follow use integrated robotics to decide speed and steering among other functions.
The new approach is designed to reduce the risk to troops and provide on-demand delivery.
The eerie video shows a close-up of a steering wheel turning on its own to keep a tele-operated Polaris MRZR steady.
They also used Hoverbike drones to practice delivering supplies in the most dangerous 'last mile' up to the battlefield.
Defence Minister Harriett Baldwin said: 'One hundred years ago we pioneered tank warfare with our US allies, and today we remain right at the forefront of military technology together.
The Polaris MZR is fitted with lidar, a form of radar, which helps it to navigate. In Lidar — or light detection and ranging — scanning, one or more lasers sends out short pulses, which bounce back when they hit an obstacle, whether clouds, leaves or rocks
This image shows the tele-operated Polaris MRZR race across Michigan as the Ministry of Defence trial driverless vehicles
Using an adapted Xbox game console controller, Corporal Mortimer and Lance Corporal Thorne remotely ‘drove’ the 4x4 around the area to simulate an off-road task
'This exercise has proven the success of our ongoing investment in science and technology as we see concepts becoming reality.
'This particular project is spearheading solutions to the notoriously dangerous operation of supplying our frontline on the battlefield.
'Delivering crucial food, fuel and ammo remotely will help save soldiers' lives.'
The Polaris MZR is fitted with lidar, a form of radar, which helps it to navigate.
Footage from an exercise three years in the making shows a robotic convoy of trucks race across the vast landscape led by the six-tonne British Army MAN SV
The truck and the US Light Medium Tactical Vehicles that follow use integrated robotics to decide speed and steering among other functions. The new approach is designed to reduce the risk to troops and provide on-demand delivery
In Lidar — or light detection and ranging — scanning, one or more lasers sends out short pulses, which bounce back when they hit an obstacle, whether clouds, leaves or rocks.
In self-driving vehicles, the sensors constantly scan the surrounding areas looking for information and acting as the 'eyes' of the car.
By combining this information with other sensors, cameras and GPS, the Polaris MZR was able to find its way across the test area.
Using an adapted Xbox game console controller, Corporal Mortimer and Lance Corporal Thorne remotely ‘drove’ the 4x4 around the area to simulate an off-road task.
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