Bron: Diehl Defence
During a test campaign with the 6./Wachbataillon (Guard Battalion) in Lehnin at the end of November, Diehl Defence proved that its infantry support vehicle jointly developed with the industry partner Hentschel System GmbH and Mattro will not stop for difficult terrain and dense forest. The Unmanned Ground Vehicle (UGV) equipped with the Autonomy Kit PLATON independently follows the soldier walking ahead who is thus able to focus completely on his actual tasks.
The “follow-me”-capability put into action with PLATON operates without active sensors, such as LiDAR (Light Detectionand Ranging) and GPS, which could be easily detected or jammed by the enemy. The UGV maneuvers around trees and manages obstacles by either avoiding or – if possible – driving over them, thus enabling soldiers to move fast and without attracting attention in the field.
The Diehl Defence UGV is based on the Ziesel platform from Mattro. With its small dimensions of 148 x 123 cm (LxW), its low dead weight of 300 kg and a maximum payload of more than 300 kg, this vehicle is the perfect infantry support when it comes to the transport of heavy equipment in the terrain. Due to its high maneuverability, the UGV can accompany soldiers through a dense wooded area without impeding them. Equipped with exchangeable 10 kWh lithium-ion batteries, Mattro Ziesel operates completely electrically, attracts no attention by loud running or engine noises and is able to reach a speed of up to 20 km/h.