Autonomous driving: When the tank is on the road by itself

Imagine an armored personnel carrier turning a corner by itself. Or a drone on four to eight wheels being used on the battlefield. This is what technology is capable of now: Technology conglomerate Rheinmetall, represented by Rheinmetall Landsysteme GmbH, has entered into a global cooperation in the field of "autonomous driving" with the Swabian company Paravan GmbH, the world leader in drive-by-wire technologies.

The goal of the cooperation is to build and develop partially and fully autonomous carrier platforms for military and dual-use applications, as well as special civilian vehicles for humanitarian purposes that can be used for the protection, rescue, and safety of people in immediate danger situations and crisis areas. This groundbreaking cooperation lays a crucial foundation for the enhanced development of remote-controlled, automated, and future autonomous systems. A far-reaching cooperation agreement has now been signed by representatives of both companies. In this cooperation, the partners address international markets as well as corresponding programs in Germany.

For more than 15 years, the manufacturer and world leader Paravan has been developing drive-by-wire control technologies. This technology is a central foundation for future autonomous driving at the highest level (Level 5), where no driver is required. The systems are patented, fail-safe, street-legal, and equipped with independent power supply.

Paravan has prepared and equipped over 200 test vehicles, pre-series vehicles, and show cars for well-known automotive manufacturers and suppliers worldwide for autonomous driving in the last five years alone.

The Space Drive control unit is the heart of the drive-by-wire technology. It doesn't always have to be in a red sports car, it also works in camouflage and with more wheels.

The modular and fail-safe systems consist of software, actuators, interface management, and integrated sensors. This allows the system to be individually customized to the requirements and needs of system manufacturers like Rheinmetall, major automotive companies, or suppliers.

The special expertise lies in the redundant digital control of steering, throttle, and brake as well as the provision of interfaces for digitization, GPS, control computers, cameras, radar, sensors. The Paravan technology already meets the European regulations of ECE-R 79, ECE-R 10, and ECE-R 13.

In addition to autonomous driving, Paravan's technology allows for the elimination of the steering column, leading to a complete redesign of vehicle interiors and enabling entirely new vehicle concepts for the future.

The Paravan logo on the Space Drive control unit. Now driving for Rheinmetall.

About the cooperation partners:

The Rheinmetall Landsysteme GmbH is a subsidiary of the Rheinmetall Defense Group and is responsible within the Vehicle Systems division for the development and manufacture of armored tracked vehicles and turret systems. All development, production, and service activities are aimed at providing the best possible protection for soldiers in action. For many years, Rheinmetall Landsysteme has been continuously and cross-corporately examining the potential uses and applications of the latest technologies for remote-controlled, automated, and future autonomous systems. Introduced remote-controlled vehicles for purposes such as mine detection confirm this, as does the first approval of a street-legal military tracked vehicle with drive-by-wire functionality ("Digital Wiesel") almost 20 years ago.

The Paravan GmbH was founded in 2005 and has become the world leader in drive-by-wire technologies for severely and profoundly disabled individuals. Vehicles converted by Paravan with their street-legal drive-by-wire solutions have traveled more than 500 million kilometers worldwide. The internationally active Würth Group holds 51% of the shares. With around 170 employees, Paravan supplies more than 30 countries worldwide. Paravan is expanding its business activities in the civilian sector to the automotive industry, particularly focusing on the topics of assistance systems, sensor integration, and automated/autonomous driving.

Rheinmetall Landsysteme GmbH on the internet: Rheinmetall Landsysteme GmbH 

Paravan GmbH on the internet: https://www.paravan.de