Transport & logistics
follower-capable vehicles can also be complementary to the longer process of developing automated individual vehicles that can operate on their own in various types of environments.
A great big convoy Trucking is an AV use case that allows more of the tasks involved with driving to be shifted to the vehicle. Shipping depots and distribution centres generally have well-defined traffic patterns and are close to major highways with minimal complex city traffic in between. As a result, human operators can offload nearly all the tasks involved in driving to the vehicle’s control system and focus on supervising. The US Army has been aggressively studying military vehicle convoys. Unlike their civilian counterparts, such convoys “may have to go anywhere, preventing automation from relying on known routes, road markings and traffic rules”, notes Clark. “They also often must travel through areas lacking a formal road network. The US military has been addressing this using automation technology that allows a lead vehicle operated by drivers to guide automated vehicles along the route.”
This reduces the number of human drivers needed and reduces the risk to soldiers by only placing them in the lead vehicle. To allow communications between vehicles that may be separated by obstructions like buildings or terrain, “the army is using drones as communication relays”, Clark says. “In many of these experiments, automation in the lead vehicle allows the human driver to focus mostly on decisions regarding where to go, while the truck manages the tasks of avoiding obstacles and proposing routes using Google Maps-like decision aids.”
The British Army has committed to enhancing its operational logistic capability through the use of Robotic Autonomous Systems (RAS) and is exploring the best ways to do that – including experimentation with its allies – according to retired Major General Simon Hutchings OBE, master general of logistics with the Royal Logistics Corps and formerly director of joint support at the UK Ministry of Defence. “This includes optionally crewed leader-follower- capable large goods vehicles to enable our logistic personnel to increase delivery throughput,” Hutchings notes. “We see operational advantage in enabling greater endurance at increasingly longer distances with greater volumes of materiel, enhancing operational effectiveness. The RAS ambition also includes smaller autonomous systems, such as drones, which can be optimised to undertake the last-mile logistic tasks – for example, distributing blood product and critical spares. “All of these require integration of sensors to enable data capture and usage at a standard and volume that has yet to occur on the battlefield,” he adds. “Understanding where and what is required, to maximise the benefit of RAS is critical to harnessing both volume and speed that they can offer.”
However, Hutchings is aware that the logistics liability for operating these systems must be fully understood. “Maintaining a resilient supply chain for autonomous systems will be essential – as will the ever-closer integration of our industry partners. It is also clear that a conversation about how skills may be transferred into the military workforce if needed in a crisis must be had, else we will fail to ensure that autonomous systems can be sustained and repaired in a conflict zone.”
Machine-human cooperation According to Sagie Evbenata, senior research analyst at Guidehouse, “The ongoing mobility transition toward automated, autonomous and zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) is transforming how the global commercial and defence communities move people and goods – the traditional boundaries of how vehicles are fuelled, stored, and utilised are being redefined.” Furthermore, a changing climate and an increase in extreme weather conditions are creating an urgent need for companies and militaries to adapt mission capabilities to incorporate resilient equipment and installations. On the defence side, local commanders will need to assess the impact of incorporating these new vehicle capabilities and needs into their daily operations. Evbenata notes that “these vehicles will require updates to existing infrastructure and operating procedures, specifically in the areas of fleets, fuels, and facilities. These updates will also be critical to enabling new vehicles to achieve their mission while creating a more resilient infrastructure network.” The British Army’s RAS ambition is seen as essential to maintaining a leading and modern army composed of teams made up of both humans and machines. “A key objective is the minimisation of risk to human life by the increased deployment of automated air and ground systems,” says Evbenata. “As a result, the army is involved in a number of research projects to assess and develop automated technologies with military potential.”
Evbenata cites one example of this, Project Theseus, which “looks to identify self-driving ground and air technologies to provide last-mile deliveries of military supplies such as ammunition, food, and other critical items to the battlefield”. As part of this project, the army has been developing and evaluating uncrewed ground vehicles (UGVs) that are capable of transporting cargo over off-road terrain in high-risk environments. Evbenata notes that “the army has partnered with Rheinmetall to retrofit AI-powered automation systems to some of its fleet of Polaris MRZR-D4 light strike and reconnaissance all-terrain vehicles”.
Tactical Transport (MUTT) robotic platoon vehicles that, in addition to transporting infantry equipment, provide intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance. MUTTs can be configured to travel semi-autonomously or by remote tele-operation.
Defence & Security Systems International /
www.defence-and-security.com
Furthermore, the army has been testing Multi-Utility $2.16bn
The value of the global unmanned ground vehicle market in 2022.
Research and Markets 39
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