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Advanced / Transformational Technology

DoD Opens $30 Million Prize Challenge For Autonomous Non-Tactical Vehicles

By Cal Biesecker

Friday, May 22nd, 2026

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DoD Opens $30 Million Prize Challenge For Autonomous Non-Tactical Vehicles

Aurora Innovation is developing and piloting commercial self-driving trucks. Photo: Aurora Innovation

The Defense Department’s Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) last Friday kicked-off a $30 million prize challenge that seeks to make better use of the Pentagon’s fleet of manually-operated non-tactical vehicles (NTVs) used in the daily, but infrequent, movement of personnel and logistics by leveraging commercially-available autonomous vehicles and modern fleet management practices. Proposals are due by June 8 for the Robotic Operation for Autonomous Delivery and Sustainment (ROADS) prize challenge, and DIU wants “commercially competitive” solutions that upfront can demonstrate at…

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