BAE Systems and EPE go autonomous

BAE Systems Australia and EPE have today announced a partnership to demonstrate advanced autonomous capabilities in Australia.

Announcing the partnership on the eve of Land Forces 2022 in Brisbane, the two organisations will collaborate on the development autonomous technologies through BAE Systems’ Unmanned Ground Vehicle (UGV) program, which began this year.

BAE Systems has converted 20 M113 armoured personnel carriers to autonomous operation and delivered them to the Army for test and evaluation.

Army is using the vehicles to develop ways in which autonomous vehicles can be integrated into ADF operations.

The announcement came as @AuManufacrturing news launched a two week editorial series Land Forces 2022:
LAND FORCES 2022 – INTRODUCING OUR NEW EDITORIAL SERIES
LAND FORCES 2022 – DEFENCE INDUSTRY POLICY UNDER PAT CONROY, INTERVIEW

BAE Systems said the collaboration, focused on implementing BAE Systems’ advanced vehicle management systems on to UGVs, aims to develop soldier support systems for the Australian Army.

BAE Systems Australia Managing Director for Defence Delivery, Andrew Gresham said: “It’s critical for businesses like ours to collaborate with Australian industry so we can successfully support the ADF and, working with companies such as EPE provides opportunities to work as one team, creating an environment that fosters innovation.

“Having access to the EPE’s unmanned ground vehicle platform and magnificent test facilities here in South-East Queensland has helped us make significant advances in ground autonomy technology, and we look forward to furthering this work together.”

BAE Systems Australia is an industry partner and the Land Domain Lead to government agency Trusted Autonomous Systems Defence Cooperative Research Centre.

Commercialisation of this technology will be accelerated through these collaborations.

EPE’s Director Innovation and Commercialisation Ben Sorensen (pictured) said:

“It’s been an extremely positive experience working with BAE Systems on a shared pursuit of a multi-domain, collaborative and autonomous robotics for Defence at our MILTECS test and assurance facility.

“Our technical teams are working collaboratively, both virtually and face-to-face, to advance the technology, enhance capability and significantly de-risk future Defence programmes.”

Picture: Ben Sorensen