AM General and U.S. Army Partner on Autonomous Driving Vehicle for Evolving Military Installation Transport Needs

TROY, Mich., March 29, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- AM General and the U.S. Tank Automotive Research Development and Engineering Center (TARDEC) announced a new partnership to develop and demonstrate an autonomous driving vehicle that may revolutionize how soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines, along with equipment and supplies, are transported inside U.S. military facilities.

Under the Applied Robotics for Installations and Base Operations initiative (ARIBO), AM General and TARDEC are currently developing an autonomous vehicle, with demonstrations expected to begin this Spring at the U.S. Military Academy, West Point.

The ARIBO program allows current civilian robotics technology to be examined in vehicles in a semi-controlled environment such as military bases like West Point which have restricted roads, predefined routes and restrictive operations for favorable conditions. The program's aim is to advance the state of military robotics while simultaneously addressing U.S. military base needs by creating reliable military robotic technology and reducing operational and personnel costs. 

"The American-made AM General vehicle is ideally suited for this initiative which will demonstrate the ability to augment the Academy's existing transportation system, which consists of a 24/7 shuttle service transporting cadets and other military personnel to/or from the Academy hospital," said AM General Executive Vice President, Kevin Rahrig. "Imagine what having a fully autonomous wheelchair accessible vehicle would mean to individuals with disabilities. This partnership with the Army could be the first step in transforming transportation for millions of people."   

During testing, the autonomous program at West Point will examine:

• Vehicle safety, performance and reliability
• Acceptance of robotic technologies by government users and non-users
• Time and money savings
• Energy efficiency
• Navigation and mapping ability

"The West Point demonstration uses AM General's vehicle to not only demonstrate an autonomy kit, but to highlight the idea of robotics for military and civilian use," said Alex Jimenez, project leader for TARDEC's ARIBO program.  "The best robotic systems in the world will not find traction until users are comfortable with the systems.  West Point is a prime location to address the acceptance aspect of robotics by having future Army leaders see and experience these robotics first hand."

About TARDEC

Headquartered at the U.S. Army Detroit Arsenal in Warren, Mich., TARDEC is a major research, development and engineering center for the Army Materiel Command's Research, Development and Engineering Command and an enterprise partner in the TACOM Life Cycle Management Command. TARDEC is the Nation's laboratory for advanced military automotive technology and serves as the Ground Systems Integrator for all Defense Department manned and unmanned ground vehicle systems. With roots dating back to the World War II era, TARDEC develops and integrates the right technology solutions to improve current force effectiveness and provides superior capabilities for future force integration. More information can be found at www.army.mil/tardec.

About AM General

AM General designs, engineers, manufactures, supplies and supports specialized vehicles for military and commercial customers worldwide. Through its military business, the company is widely recognized as the world leader in design, engineer, manufacture and support of Light Tactical Vehicles, having produced and sustained more than 300,000 vehicles in over 60 countries. Its growing commercial business includes its wholly owned subsidiary, Mobility Ventures, designer and manufacturer of the acclaimed MV-1, the only American made vehicle specifically engineered from the ground up in support of wheelchair users and people with disabilities. AM General is also proud to have been selected by Mercedes-Benz to be its only contract manufacturer in the United States, producing the R-Class vehicle in Mishawaka, Ind.  Additionally, the company was selected by the U.S. Postal Service to develop and test advanced automotive technologies for use in the Next Generation Delivery Vehicle program. AM General has more than five decades of experience meeting the changing needs of the defense and automotive industries, supported by its employees at major facilities in Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio, and a strong supplier base that stretches across 43 states. Please see more information about AM General at www.amgeneral.com. For more information about the MV-1 vehicle, please visit www.mv-1.us

Media Contact: Jeff Adams
Global Communications & Marketing / AM General
Phone: 703-347-2276
E-mail: [email protected]

SOURCE AM General

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