US Army orders next-gen gear-toting robot mules • The Register

Troopers bear a heavy burden whereas serving their homelands, which is why the US Military has awarded contracts this week to 2 firms for a brand new technology of equipment-hauling robots. 

The Small Multipurpose Gear Transport Increment II (S-MET II) is about to be constructed by American Rheinmetall Automobiles and HDT Expeditionary Methods, the Military stated. The pair have been awarded a mixed complete of $22 million for eight prototype autos to be delivered at an unspecified future date. 

The award for Increment II of the S-MET comes quickly on the heels of the supply of the unique model, constructed by Normal Dynamics Land Methods. Sixteen of the unique S-MET have been delivered to the Military in late 2022, and by early 2024, the decision had already gone out for the brand new one. 

That unique model of the eight-wheeled, radio-controlled car, the US Military stated, had the power to hold half a ton of kit and generate energy for transportable digital tools, together with having capabilities for weapon system mounting and casualty evacuation. 

S-MET II will retain these capabilities, however the Military needs it to be quieter, have double the payload capability, improved energy export capabilities “to allow trendy mission payloads like unmanned air programs,” a extra modular design, the power to function the hub for a wi-fi mesh community, and “worldwide grid charging” capabilities. 

“S-MET Increment II addresses functionality gaps related to extreme bodily burdens, recharging batteries throughout steady operations, and lowering sustainment burden for semi-independent operations,” stated Kyle Bruner, undertaking supervisor for the Military’s Power Projection program. It is not clear if S-MET II may have extra autonomy than the primary model, or if it is going to even be radio-controlled by an operator.

The unique model of S-MET is predicated on an current Normal Dynamics car, the Multi-Utility Tactical Transport, or MUTT. Nonetheless, the Military did not specify within the announcement how the MUTT is completely different from the unique S-MET, or why Normal Dynamics wasn’t chosen to construct the newer model.

Adios, ruck march

Relying in your army occupation, it is not unusual for a load of discipline tools to weigh in extra of 100 lbs (45 kg). Even if you happen to’re younger and very match, that is nonetheless numerous weight, and it is extremely widespread for troopers to undergo accidents resulting from carrying extreme weight over lengthy distances in a few of the least supportive footwear identified to humanity.

Accidents apart, nobody is functioning their greatest after strolling ten miles carrying 100 lbs and carrying a Kevlar helmet – certain, it builds character, however in an precise fight scenario, exhaustion could be the distinction between life and dying.

“The S-MET reduces Soldier load and enhances small unit fight effectiveness by lowering fatigue and harm brought on by extreme bodily masses, shifting the burden to the robotic platform,” Bruner stated of the so-called robotic mule. “S-MET helps the Military’s mission to implement robotic and autonomous system capabilities with urgency to minimize threat to Troopers in multi-domain operations.”

If the S-MET II is profitable, the Military stated it intends to amass as many as 2,195 programs by late fiscal 2027. The unique mannequin was being thought of for infantry brigade fight groups, explosive ordnance disposal, and safety pressure help brigades. It is not instantly clear if the S-MET II will probably be deployed to extra unit sorts.

We have reached out to the US Military, Rheinmetall, and HDT with questions, however have not heard again. ®