As part of a joint operation between the US Army’s Tank-Automotive Research, Development and Engineering Center (TARDEC) and Lockheed Martin, tactical vehicles equipped with a new mobility system successfully negotiated both urban and rural obstacle courses littered with oncoming traffic, passing cars, pedestrians and traffic circles.
Called the Autonomous Mobility Appliqué System (AMAS), the new Lockheed developed driving scheme is designed with retrofitting in mind and can be installed as a kit. Built around a LIDAR sensor and GPS receiver, the AMAS drives its host using advanced control algorithms and will fit on nearly any military vehicle.
According to David Simon, Lockheed’s AMAS program manager, “The AMAS hardware and software performed exactly as designed, and dealt successfully with all of the real-world obstacles that a real-world convoy would encounter.”
With its successful demonstration the AMAS moves one step closer to being field ready. If autonomous vehicles could be deployed across a warzone, casualties due to injury by roadside IEDs could be virtually eliminated. That alone would make the AMAS a game-changer.
Beyond reducing casualties the AMAS equipped vehicles might also prove useful in the civilian world. Autonomous driving systems could help automate tractor-trailer operations, revolutionizing supply chains around the world.
Image and Video Courtesy of Lockheed Martin & RDCOMTARDEC