The XT Mission Autonomous Master can transport more than a ton of supplies to war zones

The armies want autonomous vehicles to reduces the risk and workload for soldiers, and a new model is a prime example of how it works, however Popular Science he said. The so-called excellent Rheinmetall Mission Master XT it can carry 2,204 pounds of supply in battle, while operating over a range of over 460 miles. This will allow them to follow soldiers on rough terrain, transport a soldier or act as a scout.

The Mission Master XT, designed and built by Rheinmetall Canada, can handle sandy, rocky and mountainous terrain, even in “ice, snow and zub-zero,” the company said. It is also completely amphibious to be able to float and swim through the water with its full ton-plus payload or climb steep hills as high as 35 degrees. At the same time, massive low-inflation tires can work even with deep holes up to three-quarters of an inch deep.

The vehicle uses a diesel engine to achieve its range of 460 miles, but also packs lithium-ion batteries that can power the electronics for up to six hours. This allows users to perform “silent surveillance” operations such as monitoring the enemy closely without making any noise or emitting a thermal pattern that can be detected by the enemy.

It can drive autonomously thanks to Rheinmetall’s custom PATH software that includes 3D Lidar, front and rear cameras and extra sensors for navigating where GPS might be unavailable. It also has a tracking mode where you can follow a soldier or vehicle forward while maintaining a safe distance. At the same time, it has a seat for a driver who can manage the vehicle with an integrated joystick.

With these capabilities, the Mission Master XT is designed to transport supplies, drag humans and transport wounds outside of battle zones. However, it could also take a more active role. It is also designed to carry a rifle with “much more firepower than the usual man-carried section weapon,” so it could fight in “packs of wolves” with two scouting vehicles and four armed robots. In this case, it would be operated remotely and not autonomously, presumably to avoid any ED-209 scenarios.