Integrated Unmanned Ground System
Integrated Unmanned Ground System | |
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![]() THeMIS that will be used as basis for the iMUGS (not representative of the final iMUGS design) | |
Type | Unmanned ground vehicle |
Place of origin | ![]() |
Service history | |
Used by | ![]()
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Production history | |
Manufacturer | 14 European companies
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Produced | Demonstration planned 2021 |
Integrated Modular Unmanned Ground System (UGS or iMUGS) is a European Union's Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO) project that aims to create a European standard unmanned ground system and develop scalable modular architecture for hybrid manned-unmanned systems, as well as increasing interoperability, situational awareness and speeding up decision making. The project is coordinated by Estonia, with 10 other European countries participating. It will use Milrem's existing THeMIS unmanned ground vehicle for different payloads.[1][2][3]
The total cost of the programme is €32.6m, of which €30.6m was funded by the European Commission (EDIDP) and the remaining €2m by the participating countries collectively. The aim of the EDIDP programme is to strengthen the strategic autonomy of the European Union and the co-operation between member countries.[4]
The project results will be shown in operational environments as part of military exercises or at separate testing events, the first demonstration is scheduled for Q2 2021 in Estonia, with later demonstrations planned in each member state.[5]
Objectives[]
Goal of the project is to build and demonstrate a system of unmanned ground and airborne vehicles that can perform a variety of surveillance and rescue tasks and standardise a European ecosystem for aerial and ground platforms, command, control and communications, sensors, payloads, and algorithms.[6] The ethical aspects of robotics, artificial intelligence, and autonomous systems will be taken into account, Milrem said the system being developed would be under “meaningful human control”.[7]
Requirements set by 7 members:[8]
- Autonomy
- Cyber Security
- Communications & Vehicle to vehicle
- Command & Control, Interoperability
- Modular Standardized Open Architecture
- Swarming
- Manned-Unmanned Teaming & Operational Scenarios
Capabilities:
- Multi-mission capable platform to carry different payloads (transport, ISR, tethered UAV etc.) and sensors
- Cyber secure autonomous navigation capability for route and mission planning with different options for manned-unmanned teaming
- EW resilient Command & Control interface capable of swarming and interoperable with existing C4 systems
Members[]
Estonia - Project Coordinator
Belgium
Czech Republic
France
Finland
Germany
Hungary
Latvia
Netherlands
Poland
Spain
Participating companies[]
14 companies from across Europe are cooperating on the project:[9]
Milrem Robotics
GT Cyber Technologies
Estonian Military Academy
Safran Electronics & Defense
NEXTER Systems
Krauss-Maffei Wegmann
Diehl Defence
Latvijas Mobilais Telefons
Bittium
Insta DefSec
GMV Aerospace and Defence will be coordinator of the command and control and C4ISR interoperability subproject[10]
(UN)MANNED will develop the certifiable ground control station allowing one operator to control a large fleet of unmanned systems (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles and Unmanned Ground Vehicles).
Royal Military Academy of Belgium will lead the sub-project on swarming, developing capabilities, enabling heterogeneous teams of robots to work as a group towards a common objective.
dotOcean is member of the swarming team and develops algorithms to enable teamwork and cooperation in a fleet of networked robots.[11]
See also[]
- Common Security and Defence Policy
- Permanent Structured Cooperation
- European Main Battle Tank
- European Patrol Corvette
- Eurocopter Tiger
- European External Action Service
- Permanent Structured Cooperation
References[]
- ^ "integrated-unmanned-ground-system-ugs".
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Hankewitz, Sten (2020-12-18). "Estonia-led consortium to develop the European standard unmanned ground system". Estonian World. Retrieved 2021-02-12.
- ^ "EU States Come Together to Develop A Modular UGV". www.defenceprocurementinternational.com. Retrieved 2021-02-12.
- ^ "Press corner". European Commission - European Commission. Retrieved 2021-02-12.
- ^ MariaTiidus (2020-12-16). "Estonia led consortium to start the development of the European standard unmanned ground system > Centre for Defence Investment". Centre for Defence Investment. Retrieved 2021-02-12.
- ^ "Milrem-led consortium receives EU grant to develop European standard unmanned ground system". Janes.com. Retrieved 2021-02-12.
- ^ "Milrem Robotics led consortium to start the development of the European standard unmanned ground system". Milrem. 2020-12-16. Retrieved 2021-02-12.
- ^ "Milrem Robotics led consortium awarded 30,6 MEUR by the European Commission to develop a European standardized unmanned ground system". Milrem. 2020-06-17. Retrieved 2021-02-12.
- ^ Richardson, Jack (2020-06-23). "Development of a European Standardised Unmanned Ground System". European Security & Defence. Retrieved 2021-02-12.
- ^ "GMV | unmanned ground vehicle". www.gmv.com. Retrieved 2021-02-12.
- ^ "dotOcean contributes to the future of an European standard unmanned ground system • dotOcean". dotOcean. 2020-12-22. Retrieved 2021-02-12.
- Permanent Structured Cooperation projects
- Unmanned ground vehicles