Overland AI integrated its OverDrive software stack and SPARK hardware into the General Dynamics Small Multipurpose Equipment Transport. | Source: Overland AI
Overland AI yesterday said it has successfully demonstrated its autonomous ground vehicle integrated with its uncrewed aerial system, or UAS-capable payloads as part of a joint breaching experimentation effort with the Sandhills Project and the 20th Engineer Brigade of the XVIII Airborne Corps.
The Seattle-based company completed the demonstration at the U.S. Army’s premier technology innovation event, Project Convergence Capstone 5 (PC-C5).
Founded in 2022, Overland AI said it is powering ground operations for modern defense. The company has conducted more than a decade of advanced research in robotics and machine learning. That and its field-test forward ethos allow it to deliver advanced autonomy for unit commanders.
Overland AI said developed OverWatch, its intuitive C2 interface, to provide commanders with the precise coordination of autonomous ground systems needed for complex missions to succeed. The company claimed that it has achieved the end-to-end integration of ground autonomy, from operator to effect. It said it is putting this capability into the hands of tactical operators today.
SMET vehicles gain autonomy
Hazardous missions in austere and electronically denied environments require reliable and resilient technology, noted Overland AI. It said its SPARK autonomy upfit and OverDrive stack enable ground vehicles to navigate off-road without GPS or direct operator control.
The company built its fully autonomous tactical vehicle, ULTRA, in-house by integrating SPARK and OverDrive into a modular and adaptable platform that is currently in production. The U.S. military is testing several ULTRA vehicles, which can carry 1,000 lb. (453.5 kg), move up to 35 mph (56.3 kph), and cruise for 100 mi. (160.9 km).
Operating under the direction of the Sandhills Project, Overland AI integrated its full stack of autonomy hardware and software into General Dynamics Land Systems’ Small Multipurpose Equipment Transport (SMET) vehicle. The technology has also been integrated with the Textron Ripsaw and Polaris RZR.
The SMET was originally controlled via a tethered hand remote. Now, Overland AI’s OverDrive software stack, SPARK hardware infrastructure, and OverWatch tactical interface enable autonomous operation.
Overland AI shows support of Sandhill Project objectives
U.S. Army soldiers from the 27th Engineer Battalion, 20th Engineer Brigade, trained directly on Overland’s system during PC-C5. The soldiers learned to independently operate, troubleshoot, and maintain the fully autonomous platform.
By the end of the exercise, they executed breaching missions, successfully starting up the Autonomous Ground System, conducting missions, and shutting it down independently.
The demonstration included two payload integrations. The first was a trailer equipped with a mine-clearing UAS designed for breaching a lane. In the second, a Stratin Engineering-developed drone launcher mounted on the SMET to deploy small attritable drones.
“Soldiers independently and successfully operated our ground autonomy for two consecutive weeks during Project Convergence Capstone 5,” stated Byron Boots, co-founder and CEO of Overland AI. “Breaching exercises continue to demonstrate the maturity of our capability and the tactical benefit of removing humans from some of the most dangerous missions.”
Overland AI directly supported the Sandhills Project’s objective, such as minefields, wire, and ditches, while enabling distributed operations across a breach. The 20th Engineer Brigade now has the upgraded SMET vehicle for continued testing, and Overland AI will provide field support and a software license under its contract.
PC-C5 is a key part of the Army’s persistent evaluation and testing of next-generation warfighting capabilities, including cross-domain operations in the INDOPACOM (Indo-Pacific) theater. The Overland AI ground team a the exercise included experts across hardware integration, autonomy software, infrastructure, field operations, product, and program management.
Overland AI said it continues to advance the state of ground autonomy for defense, having previously secured an $18.6 million contract with the U.S. Army and Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) to develop autonomy software for the Robotic Combat Vehicle (RCV) program.
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