Robotic Combat Vehicle (RCVS)

2019: Announcement

In the middle of July, 2019 the U.S. Army announced carrying out fighting tests of the new robot for the combat zone. Robotic Combat Vehicle (RCVS) is intended for transportation of staff of ground forces and its fire support. Testing of development should show technologies which will be implemented afterwards on military platforms.

The new robot is created on the basis of the M113 armored personnel carrier and will be operated soldiers from MET-D, the upgraded fighting vehicle. MET-D will be equipped with cameras and a portable tower, and crew members will manage robots using touchpads. In general use of the latest means of communication, technologies of data mapping and also obtaining video from unmanned aerial vehicles will allow soldiers to control better a situation and to interact with each other.

The U.S. Army adds to the arsenal the robot who transports soldiers in the combat zone

Though the first remote control tests passed in May, 2019 in Texas, the first test phase of platforms will begin in March, 2020 in the Fort Carson in Colorado. On it couple of MET-D vehicles and four RCV will be provided, in each MET-D the driver, the shooter and four soldiers controlling RCV pair for assessment of maneuvers at the level of a platoon will sit. Then the army management will consider results and will introduce amendments for future tests. The next stages will be even more large-scale and will pass in Europe; the last tests are planned for 2023.

The army works several years on creation of armored robotic vehicles - the mobile platforms equipped with cameras and weapon can be directed to the line of fire instead of soldiers. It is expected that robotic platforms will be less and quicker, than the normal machines with crew used by army. And as they will not need heavy armor for protection of people, they will be able to select more place for weapon or fuel.^[1]

Robotics

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