Autonomous UGV Demonstrated to Italian Army

Milrem Robotics has demonstrated its autonomous THeMIS unmanned ground vehicle (UGV) to the Italian Army, launching a new program to assess and analyse the implementation of intelligent robotic systems into the army’s doctrine. The UGV was enhanced with Milrem’s Intelligent Functions Integration Kit (MIFIK), which features autonomous functions such as waypoint navigation and operator following, and can also be integrated onto other unmanned vehicles.

Milrem Robotics’ Intelligent Systems Implementation Analysis and Assessment (IS-IA²) program, designed to help armed forces implement intelligent systems into their capabilities, is composed of three phases. These phases are analysis of the requirements of the armed forces, implementation of a tailor-made RAS (robotics and autonomous systems) solution with integration of custom or COTS industry-provided technologies, and evaluation of the outcome.

Milrem Robotics has also recently delivered four THeMIS UGVs to the Royal Netherlands army, increasing their THeMIS fleet to six units. Milrem Robotics also acts as the system integrator for all third-party technologies, including weapons systems. The THeMIS has been delivered to nine countries to date, of which seven are NATO members, including France, Norway, the UK, and US.

The company also leads iMUGS, an EDIDP (European Defence Industrial Development Programme)- funded project that develops the European standard architecture for unmanned ground vehicles and their management system, including cyber defence solutions, and demonstrates the advantages of unmanned systems for enhancing defence capabilities.

Cpt (ret) Jüri Pajuste, Milrem’s Defence Research and Development Director, commented: “IS-IA² provides armed forces support from initial planning to full implementation and post implementation analyses of intelligent and robotic systems with (NATO standard) concept development and experimentation methodologies. This enables customers to get support and solutions for any step in the process.”

“With years of experience in RAS experimentations and related system integration, Milrem Robotics is in a great position to be a technology partner and kick-start an innovative robotics and autonomous systems evaluation program to create or enhance new military capabilities.”