Oshkosh Defense [OSK] drew back the curtain for the international debut of its Oshkosh TerraMax™ unmanned ground vehicle (UGV) technology, which is available to support militaries globally and demonstrated at IDEX in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
The TerraMax UGV technology provides a solution to two primary needs of today’s military customers worldwide, the company said. The technology helps reduce the threat to warfighters from IEDs by increasing a driver’s situational awareness or removing a driver from the vehicle entirely. It can serve as a force multiplier because it allows one operator to supervise three to five UGVs from a safe distance.
“Crew protection is a crucial priority for militaries as they modernize their vehicle fleets,” said Serge Buchakjian, senior vice president and general manager of International Programs for Oshkosh Defense. “Our TerraMax technology gives forces the option to complete missions in dangerous situations with fewer troops. Our UGV technology has been extensively tested and refined, using input from troops and leveraging our more than 90 years of experience mobilizing military forces worldwide.”
Designed as a scalable kit that can be used on any fielded tactical wheeled vehicle, the Oshkosh TerraMax UGV technology enables vehicles to complete planned missions in full autonomous mode or by “shadowing” a leader vehicle.
At IDEX, Oshkosh Defense is demonstrating the TerraMax UGV technology’s Operator Control Unit (OCU), a user-friendly control interface that provides the usability and functionality capabilities that troops need for operations in the field.
It only takes a few days to train troops to operate vehicles remotely or in full autonomous mode, because the technology was developed with the user in mind and for ease of control, a company statement said.
Vehicles equipped with the TerraMax UGV technology retain their original payload and performance capabilities and can operate for extended periods of time–day or night, through dust and adverse weather–without enduring the fatigue that can afflict human operators, the company stated.
Oshkosh also is transitioning technologies from the TerraMax UGV system to provide active-safety features for the manned operation of vehicle fleets, including electronic stability control, forward collision warning, adaptive cruise control and electric power-assist steering.
Countries throughout the Middle East region, including the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, Iraq and Oman, rely on Oshkosh vehicles for tactical and logistical operations, the company said. The company has been supporting militaries in the region for nearly 30 years and has a well-established presence with permanent offices in the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia. Oshkosh retains partnerships with industries in select markets and provides the full spectrum of vehicle life-cycle sustainment capabilities through its Integrated Product Support services.