Mission Master: Robotics as a reconnaissance scout

11/25/2020By Redaktion

A-UGV Reconnaissance autonomous unmanned ground vehicles Germany

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Rheinmetall presents the latest version of its advanced autonomous unmanned ground vehicle (A-UGV): The Mission Master - Armed Reconnaissance is equipped with state-of-the-art reconnaissance sensors as well as Rheinmetall's remote-controlled Fieldranger weapon station. This reconnaissance A-UGV is suitable for scouting missions and can also provide fire support if necessary.

Unmanned reconnaissance missions maximize troop safety

Autonomous robotic vehicles offer countless benefits, especially in the context of intelligence gathering and reconnaissance. The Mission Master - Armed Reconnaissance has been developed for highly dangerous reconnaissance missions and can provide real-time situational awareness without endangering deployed soldiers. Due to the enormous amount of data collected during such missions, Rheinmetall's new A-UGV is equipped with extremely reliable and resilient equipment. Payload includes electro-optical/infrared sensors with long range, surveillance radar, a 360° panoramic camera, a laser rangefinder, and a laser target designator to identify potential threats. To improve the line of sight for the sensors from a concealed position, the reconnaissance equipment is mounted on a retractable, 3.5-meter high mast with a tilting mechanism. This practical feature allows for easy and secure transportation of the vehicle, even in helicopters like the CH-53 or CH-47. More information on the Rheinmetall Mission Master robotic vehicle.

The Armed Reconnaissance module of the Mission Master is not limited to a specific radio family and can therefore be configured according to customer requirements. The bidirectional communication system allows for clear exchange with command posts and other A-UGVs, providing commanders with a better situational overview. In a combat situation, the remote-controlled Rheinmetall Fieldranger Light weapon station with a 7.62mm weapon offers more firepower than the MG carried as standard by the group. The use of weapons is not autonomous, but remotely controlled.

Secure operation at all times

Like the other variants of the Rheinmetall Mission Master family, the Armed Reconnaissance version owes its autonomous functions to the Rheinmetall PATH Autonomy Kit (A-kit). Proven, flexible, reliable, and highly autonomous, PATH has been developed to enable the unmanned deployment of military vehicles and thus keep soldiers out of danger zones. The A-Kit offers a wide range of remote control options for the Mission Master, including tablet computers, smartwatches, soldier systems, or handheld controllers. These devices provide full access to advanced PATH features such as follow-me, convoy, or autonomous navigation modes. Each control mode includes multiple layers of protection to ensure safe vehicle operation at all times. Furthermore, Rheinmetall adheres to the man-in-the-loop principle for any weapon operation: the decision to use weapons always rests with a human.

A comprehensive Mission Master family

The newly introduced Armed Reconnaissance module strengthens the modular and versatile Mission Master family, known for its high mobility and its ability to provide increased safety for soldiers in dangerous situations. The Cargo variant can carry over half a ton of supplies to keep the troop more mobile and reduce the individual soldier's load. The various fire support versions enhance the combat power of infantry forces, while the Rescue variant can autonomously evacuate casualties and transport specialized medical equipment for field medical interventions. Additionally, each version is equipped with a Blue Force Tracking system that is fully compatible with all NATO standards.

Just like the other Mission Master vehicles, the Armed Reconnaissance configuration is connected to the Rheinmetall Argus soldier system and the Rheinmetall Command and Control software. The latter can be installed in any existing customer command systems.

Power for the "Wolfpack"

Expanding the Mission Master portfolio with the Armed Reconnaissance variant brings Rheinmetall's entirely new Wolfpack concept to life. The Wolfpack consists of multiple Mission Master vehicles that work efficiently as a team to fulfill any mission task, including room surveillance, reconnaissance, target data transmission, and pivoting upon detection. All vehicles communicate with each other and use artificial intelligence to maintain the situational awareness required for mission accomplishment.

As a force multiplier, the entire Wolfpack can be controlled by a single operator remotely through an LTE network, SATCOM, or Military Cloud. Thanks to the intuitive operating concept, the operator can focus on the overarching mission unlike with multiple uncoordinated operators and does not need to control each A-UGV mission-specifically. As Rheinmetall continuously develops new variants of the Mission Master family, the capability spectrum of the Wolfpack will increase, contributing to the superiority of the armed forces against increasingly potent adversaries.