Autonomous military 6×6 packs electric drive and go-anywhere grit [video]

The Hunter WOLF military robot is one of six private-sector projects chosen for US Army’s Infantry Last Tactical Mile (ILTM) initiative – an advanced research initiative designed to modernize infantry support for soldiers on the battlefield.

If you’re a fan of remote trail-busting, the spec sheet on the BLADE Hunter WOLF reads like a money-no-object wish list. Precise, 6×6 electric drive, run-flat airless Tweels, and a cg that lets the military ATV climb 60% grades and traverse 40% slide slopes. If there’s a complaint to be had, it’s that no one will ever get to drive the thing. Because it drives itself.

As a “last tactical mile” field asset, this autonomous machine is being pitched as a way to provide logistical support on the battlefield and haul heavy equipment, supplies, and other mission-critical cargo across difficult terrain while also supporting casualty evacuation across difficult terrain. Still, this is the Army we’re talking about, so it’s not hard to find images of the Hunter WOLF with a 30 mm Bushmaster ready to help it live up to its name.

Field ambulance my behind

Because OF COURSE; via HDT Global.

Longtime readers are probably expecting me to make some kind of Terminator, “war is bad” reference here – but no one calls a field ambulance a “Hunter WOLF,” let alone a company branding itself as “BLADE,” so I feel OK with this one. All the same, it’s fun to read about all the ways the Hunter WOLF won’t be hunting humans, WOLF-like, to appease the whims of Skynet its programmers.

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“The Hunter WOLF is engineered, manufactured, field-proven and ready to support warfighters in challenging contested environments.” said Tom Van Doren, President of Robotics at BLADE. “It is battle-tested and field-proven to be the Army’s solution for the most dangerous and logistically complex segment of the battlefield.”

Like most military machines, precise specs are a closely guarded secret – but we know this much: the Hunter WOLF is motivated by an undisclosed number of electric motors (probably three) offering up a combined 97 kW (~130 hp). Those motors draw power from energy dense onboard batteries good for more than 12 km (~7.5 miles) of silent, off-road operation before a JP-8 diesel generator kicks on to recharge its batteries on the move, extending its range to more than 200 miles.

Take a look at the video, above, and the medivac-style image provided by the company, below, then let us know what you think of the Hunter WOLF in the comments.

Less hunter, more helper (maybe)

SOURCE | IMAGES: HDT/BLADE, via PR NewsWire.

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