The US Army is developing a variety of unmanned systems. They are intended to augment Soldiers as well as increase their capabilities to perform specific tasks. They will be able to deploy autonomous systems, which can serve as force multipliers. They do pose some challenges.
These include the complexity and potential obstacles to an autonomous truck’s ability to operate in combat areas. In addition to these hurdles, the Army will have to ensure that it has adequate technical and testing resources. In the next ten years, fully autonomous trucks should be ready for deployment in conflict areas.
The US Army has two main automated convoy designs in mind. One is a fleet of unmanned cargo truck. Another uses a leader/follower model that employs two manned trucks. Each truck following the leader vehicle's path is followed by the follower trucks. A remote control station monitors the vehicle's autonomous driving.
Autonomous vehicle have been tested on medium-tactical vehicle replacement (MTVR), heavy-equipment transportationers and RG-31mine-resistant ambush-protected vehicules. However, testing of the Expedient Leadership-Follower program has not been completed.
The leader-follower model focuses on reducing soldiers that are vulnerable to attack. This concept uses a range of sensors, a specialized vehicle–to–vehicle network and a suite to monitor and guide a truck fleet. It is essential to maintain high levels of accuracy in order to optimize the truck's route.
Depending on the budget, the Army could procure up to 5,723 SMETs. The vehicles are expected to arrive at the units by the third quarter of FY 2021. These trucks are capable of carrying out a wide variety of missions, including logistical resupply and casualty evacuation.
Automated truck convoys will change the way that the US Army does combat logistics. These robotrucks will allow soldiers to be resupplied at distant outposts. They can also transport supplies around bases.
Driverless vehicles are expected to help decrease the number of casualties related to ground resupply mission. Moreover, they will help reduce the risk of an IED hitting a convoy. The Army has been developing this technology since 1999. It has tested the technology on several vehicles, including the HX60 tactical pickup truck, the LMTV light-utility truck, and RG-31.
Despite its advantages, the US Army still has a long way to go before autonomous trucks are ready for the battlefield. To make sure that the system is reliable and safe, it will take millions of miles of testing. The US Army must face many obstacles until then.
Despite these challenges the US Army has started a long-term effort in order to develop and validate autonomous tech. Their goal is for hundreds of autonomous trucks to be deployed by 2025. They are hoping to be able, by then to deploy hundreds of autonomous trucks to combat conflict zones and to enhance logistics operations for the US Military.
As the Army advances its research and development of autonomous tech, its focus will shift to integrating these technologies into its systems. The US Army will become more efficient in its deployment of Soldiers, and be able to free them up for more difficult tasks by integrating autonomous systems. This technology will improve the Army's effectiveness, and it will play a crucial role in achieving military goals.