Viking Uncrewed Ground Vehicle

Background

HORIBA MIRA specialises in vehicle technology development ranging from product testing, through to whole vehicle development and build of programmes, providing vehicle manufacturers and suppliers with top of the range vehicle engineering, test and development consultancy.

Following the Autonomous Last Mile Re-Supply programme, a Contracts for Innovation competition funded by the Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA), HORIBA MIRA applied their expertise to explore how automating existing logistics operations on the battlefield would improve safety as well as increase tempo by resupplying at the time of need.  Phase 1 of Autonomous Last Mile Re-Supply introduced the development of novel autonomous technologies and testing on a Proving Ground to quantify the utility of emerging technologies and state-of-the-art logistics solutions.

When comparing modern logistics operations in the civilian sectors, current defence logistics operations are considered to inefficient, slow and dangerous requiring convoys of amoured vehicles, stockpiles of supplies and hazardous distribution in the ‘Last Mile’. DASA’s goal was to improve safety through the use of uncrewed systems, increase tempo through the use of automated logistics management and increase the efficiency thus reducing the number of troops required to conduct these tasks.

Prior to the Contracts for Innovation competition call from DASA, HORIBA MIRA had been developing uncrewed vehicles, including the development of the state-of-the-art ‘Viking’ vehicle along with the AI-based autonomous technology required for operation.  The Contracts for Innovation competition provided HORIBA MIRA with the opportunity to develop novel autonomous software technology which can be integrated into Viking, or indeed any other platform that is required to be uncrewed.  The innovative software components included AI-based GNSS denied navigation software and AI-based route planning software.

As one of five projects awarded Phase 2 funding, HORIBA MIRA collaborated with DASA to ensure engagement with the lead customer, demonstrating proof of concept through computer simulations along with physical trials.  Working with Army Warfighter Experiment (AWE) to showcase Robotic and Autonomous Systems to the wider Army with Viking UGV, HORIBA MIRA was able to demonstrate Viking UGV in a representative environment establishing how the solution would perform on the battlefield.  Furthermore, Viking UGV was showcased by the Ministry of Defence (MoD) at the Coalition Autonomous Assured Resupply activity in Michigan, USA to critical acclaim.

Following the successful trial with DASA/DSTL (Defence Science and Technology Laboratory), DSTL placed an order for £2.3m for these Viking UGVs that were delivered in early 2021, allowing DSTL to carry out their own trials with the Viking UGV.  The MoD tested and trialled the technical viability of the technologies with the ambition of integrating into the wider system.

Outcome

The outcome of the award and the subsequent trials fostered a successful, lasting working relationship with HORIBA MIRA.  DSTL still have the Viking kit and continue to collaborate with HORIBA MIRA on other projects such as installing the latest state-of-the-art sensors to improve autonomy, integrating different payloads to deliver novel applications, for which the army expressed high interest, such as uncrewed CBRN detection, and integrating surveillance equipment for reconnaissance.

Ultimately, the contract funding increased HORIBA MIRA’s credibility within the defence industry, which led to extended interest within the sector and the eventual acquisition of HORIBA MIRA’s UGV business by Iveco Defence Vehicles, enabling continued development of the Viking UGV and other complementary capabilities in the rapidly developing Uncrewed Ground Vehicle (UGV) market.

The award of the contract to HORIBA MIRA was one of a number of awards for autonomous systems development from DASA that we were privileged to receive.  The combination of those awards, along with the follow-on contracts from DSTL and other MoD departments, and our own investments has made our UGV business an attractive, world class capability that enabled us to seek and receive significant investment from Iveco Defence Vehicles of Italy.

The business (now IDV Robotics) remains in the UK, and continues to grow, creating more high-end technology jobs in AI and computer vision, and other robotics and autonomous systems disciplines.  2024 and 2025 are pivotal and exciting years for our business particularly for export sales and, it is clear that, without the investments made, which started with DASA, we would not be in a position to offer the class-leading products that are attractive to our customers worldwide that we now offer.

Robert Mohacsi, Viking UGV Head of Sales for HORIBA MIRA