Oshkosh truck teams with Rockwell Collins to develop second-generation self-navigating robotic truck

Citation

(2005), "Oshkosh truck teams with Rockwell Collins to develop second-generation self-navigating robotic truck", Industrial Robot, Vol. 32 No. 4. https://doi.org/10.1108/ir.2005.04932dab.004

Oshkosh truck teams with Rockwell Collins to develop second-generation self-navigating robotic truck

Oshkosh truck teams with Rockwell Collins to develop second-generation self-navigating robotic truck

Keywords: Robotics

Rockwell Collins brings expertise in Aviation and GPS Technologies providing strong potential for new successes in TerraMaxe Robotic Truck's Autonomous Operation.

Oshkosh Truck Corporation, a leading manufacturer of specialty trucks and truck bodies, announced that it has teamed with Rockwell Collins to develop Oshkosh's second- generation, self-navigating robotic TerraMaxe vehicle to compete in the Pentagon-sponsored $2-million 2005 DARPA Grand Challenge.

In its second year, the US Department of Defense is sponsoring the DARPA Grand Challenge through its Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). The agency is responsible for overseeing the development of advanced technology used by the military.

“We're very excited to work with Rockwell Collins in our quest to win the 2005 DARPA Grand Challenge”, said Robert G. Bohn, Oshkosh Truck chairman, president and chief executive officer. “Rockwell Collins and Oshkosh Truck are leaders in bringing new technologies to the industries they represent, and autonomous-vehicle research and development can only benefit from this relationship”.

Rockwell Collins brings considerable experience in the area of aviation autonomy, such as aircraft autopilot systems – advanced technology that will be well suited on a vehicle that, with a human driver, is considered by many to be the most mobile production truck in the world.

The completely autonomous TerraMax vehicle will attempt to traverse a rugged, 175-mile off-road course in the Mojave Desert, scheduled for 8 October 2005. Based on sensor data, TerraMax must make its own decisions on route planning, obstacle avoidance and speed, without the aid of any human intervention once en route. During the next 12 months, engineers, computer programmers and development experts from Oshkosh and Rockwell Collins will undertake an ambitious effort to give TerraMax the intelligence it needs to successfully navigate autonomously through the desert.

The platform for TerraMax is Oshkosh's combat-proven Medium Tactical Vehicle Replacement (MTVR). Originally built for the U.S. Marine Corps, the MTVR is equipped with breakthrough technology such as the Oshkosh TAK-4® independent suspension, Command Zonee Advanced Electronics and “on-the-go” central tire inflation. Already a combat- proven workhorse used extensively in Afghanistan and Iraq, it is also a popular platform for militaries worldwide. Additionally for the 2005 Grand Challenge, TerraMax will be given rear-wheel steering for superior turning capability.

In 2004, TerraMax was one of only seven entries to complete the 1.3-mile qualifying course. The vehicle's 1.2- mile run into the desert on race day went beyond expectations. To learn more about the TerraMax truck and its related technologies, visit the robotic vehicle home page at www.oshkoshtruck.com/darpa.