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2020-08-09

New Milestones for Patria

The development of unmanned vehicles for reconnaissance, support and combat missions is a major focus area for the defence sector around the world. Today, customers are looking for remote controlled vehicles, particularly for dangerous missions in which they don’t want to deploy people. For many, vehicle remote control and increasing autonomy are the next big step in intelligence, support and combat missions. One of the priorities in Patria’s vehicle R&D has been an embedded drive-by-wire steering system that enables remote control and autonomous functions.

The development of Patria’s Heavy Unmanned Ground Vehicles has reached a level where the Patria AMV 8x8 vehicle can be operated remotely beyond visual line of sight utilising 5G and 4G networks. This enables vehicles to operate from even longer distances with higher reliability.

The demonstration of remote-controlled Patria AMV 8x8 vehicle under 5G network was made in cooperation with the University of Tampere, Finland, and was part of the RemoteFeel project. RemoteFeel is a research project founded by Business Finland, FIMA (Forum for Intelligent Machines) and other research parties. Members of the programme were given the opportunity to drive a Patria AMV 8x8 vehicle remotely.

The demonstration utilised Patria’s Remote Operating Desk (ROD), state-of-the-art user interface containing features, such as augmented reality and haptic feedbacks enabling authentic remote-driving operations, and the combined stereo camera system developed by the University of Tampere.

Realistic Picture

Patria has developed its Heavy Unmanned Ground Vehicle system continuously for several years now and is a leading company in the area of unmanned capabilities in its business segment. The company demonstrated its Unmanned Heavy Ground Vehicle capabilities for the first time in public at the European Land Robots Trial (ELROB) with two Patria AMV 8x8 vehicles in Belgium in 2018.

The control of military vehicles cannot rely on infrastructure such as lane markings on roads. In addition, the system must operate in all circumstances, including in darkness and fog. Remote control requires the driver to have the most realistic and up-to-date picture of the vehicle’s operating environment as possible. In the system developed by Patria, optical and acoustic sensors are used to investigate the surrounding environment. Inertia-based movement sensors also provide data on the vehicle’s behaviour. They enable new operational functions and allow the use of vehicles in various missions and locations without placing the crew at risk.

Patria’s unmanned solution can be integrated to new Patria AMVXP, Patria 6x6 vehicles and to all already delivered AMV 8x8´s without any major changes in the vehicle configuration.

New Teaming Agreement

Moreover recently, Patria and Kongsberg teamed up for future U.S. turreted mortar programmes. Patria Nemo is a remote-controlled 120mm mortar system capable of both direct and indirect fire on the move. Nemo can also execute multiple rounds simultaneous impact (MRSI) fire missions with up to six rounds per MRSI mission. Turret and armoured chassis protect the crew against ballistic, mine and IED threats and battlefield contaminants within the protection level of the platform vehicle. The light and compact turret is easily installable on light, tracked chassis or wheeled armoured vehicles in the 6x6/8x8 class or Navy vessels.

Patria Nemo features modular design and, therefore, guarantees maximum flexibility and capability for further upgrades for diverse requirements to meet the specific needs of modern warfare and threats in changing environment. It can be used for self-defence and various indirect fire missions. Nemo’s indirect fire system enables the highest possible readiness for battle and crisis management. Furthermore, the fire control system enables sensor-to-shooter operations.

Having an eye on upcoming turreted mortar programmes for the U.S. armed forces, Patria and Kongsberg have agreed to leverage Kongsberg’s existing RWS manufacturing facilities in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, U.S. for Nemo’s production to the U.S. market. Kongsberg produced MCT-30 remote turrets for the U.S. Army’s Stryker programme in Johnstown, and in May was selected to do the same for the U.S. Marine Corps’ Amphibious Combat Vehicle programme.

Reference Text/Photo: www.patriagroup.com

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