Milrem Robotics Showcases Next-Level Off-Road Autonomy

Milrem Robotics, a premier developer of robotics and autonomous systems in Europe, showcased their Intelligent Functions off-road capabilities during the initial demonstration of iMUGS, a project aiming to establish the European standard for unmanned ground vehicles.

The autonomy exhibition utilized two THeMIS unmanned ground vehicles. Initially, one THeMIS UGV trailed a human operator navigating a path fraught with various obstacles. Subsequently, the operator took manual control of the first UGV via Line of Sight (LoS) mechanism and instructed the second THeMIS to follow the first from waypoint A to B.

After a successful execution, the second THeMIS was directed to return home through Milrem’s Intelligent Functions Integration Kit’s (MIFIK) Mission Planner.

While en route, the operator stood in the path of the UGVs to activate its obstacle detection and automatic stop feature. Once the operator passed the UGVs’ trajectory, the vehicle resumed its journey to the destination.

“Intelligent functionalities are an essential element of unmanned systems as they enable soldiers to focus on their mission instead of being preoccupied with system operations. Unmanned ground systems that include follow-me, return home, and point-to-point navigation capabilities significantly bolster the combat effectiveness of units,” stated (reserve Captain) Jüri Pajuste, Defence R&D Director at Milrem Robotics.

Kuldar Väärsi, CEO of Milrem Robotics, further noted: “MIFIK will be distributed to various THeMIS users globally by the end of this year. Starting in 2022, certified autonomous and intelligent functionalities will be integral to THeMIS’ standard configuration. Users of THeMIS + MIFIK will benefit from annual updates, introducing new features and enhancements.”

The autonomy demonstration marked the inaugural exhibition of the iMUGS project that intends to create a standardized unmanned ground system in Europe.

During the iMUGS demonstration, project consortium partners illustrated how the THeMIS can be deployed in combat scenarios utilizing common Armoured Personnel Carriers (APC) while coordinating with unmanned aerial systems. The specific technology employed included the Boxer APC from Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW) and a tethered drone from Acecore Technologies. A multirotor drone from Atlas Dynamics was also incorporated into the scenario.

In total, two scenarios were executed in collaboration with the Estonian Defence Forces.

In the first scenario, the THeMIS, integrated with Acecore’s tethered drone, was operated Beyond the Line of Sight (BLOS) by soldiers to detect and identify an enemy location. Following target confirmation, indirect fire was requested, and an after-action review was conducted utilizing the drone footage.

The second scenario aimed to extract a casualty from a downed vehicle and subsequently retrieve the vehicle itself. Both tasks were executed with the THeMIS UGV while the Boxer towed the UGV into the operational zone, and Atlas’ drone provided aerial oversight and situational awareness.

The criteria for the standardized Unmanned Ground System (UGS) have been established by seven EU member states, with Estonia leading the project, along with Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Latvia, and Spain.

Milrem Robotics is a leading developer and systems integrator of robotics and autonomous systems in Europe. The company operates two offices in Estonia, with additional locations in Sweden, Finland, and soon in the Netherlands.