Autonomous Convoy Management for US Army

The US Army’s Tank Automotive Research, Development and Engineering Center (TARDEC) has selected Lockheed Martin as integrated systems developer for its Expedient Leader Follower (ExLF) programme, the company announced on 30 July.

In this role, Lockheed Martin will lead a three-year effort to develop, integrate and test unmanned prototype systems for supporting leader/follower convoy activities within an asymmetric threat environment. Soldiers will conduct operational technology demonstrations using the prototypes developed in the ExLF programme to establish operating procedures and shape future programmes of record.

“We are leveraging 15 years of experience in developing autonomous capabilities for our customers,” commented Vice President of Precision Fires & Combat Maneuver Systems at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control, Gaylia Campbell. “Our goal as the integrated systems developer is to help coordinate a number of systems and vendors in achieving mature, reliable autonomous convoys to support our warfighters in complex environments [….] The Expedient Leader Follower effort will equip a number of existing military ground vehicles with scalable robotic technology through the integration of modular kits, common interfaces and an open architecture to increase operator safety, improve situational awareness and increase resupply efficiency.”