WASHINGTON \u2014 The Army recently put on display several autonomous military vehicles for a gathering of senior Army leaders and researchers at the Maneuver Center of Excellence on Fort Benning, Georgia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The demonstration on Aug. 22 featured a robotized Polaris MRZR military all-terrain vehicle with a tethered drone, an automated M113 armored personnel carrier, and a self-driving Humvee with an automated machine gun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cUsing vehicles in this way increases options for commanders and enhances soldier and unit effectiveness during high-risk operations such as breaching, obscuration, sustainment and reconnaissance, and security against an evolving enemy in complex environments,\u201d officials said in a press release.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The event was the culmination of nearly three years of hard work by the Army Tank Automotive Research, Development and Engineering Center; Army Armament Research, Development and Engineering Center; and the Office of Naval Research, the press release said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The purpose of the demonstration was to broaden horizons and expand the realm of possibilities by using repurposed older military vehicles, according to Maj. Alan Stephens, a lead project officer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe haven\u2019t figured out how we want to use this,\u201d said Robert Sadowski, a senior researcher with TARDEC.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe can use robots to do those things they do well and offset those things that humans do well,\u201d he said in a press release. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The autonomous vehicles will help lessen the burden on soldiers deployed down range and reduce risks to troops on the battlefield.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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