Unmanned land vehicles are becoming an increasingly crucial component of modern military activities. Until recently, they have mainly served as logistical or bomb support, present they are increasingly active combat participants – both in transport, evacuation and in combat tasks. Poland, like another countries, is intensifying its work on its own solutions in this field, said Newseria Adam Szepczyński, marketing manager in Łukasiewicz – Industrial Institute of Automation and Measurements (PIAP).
So far, military robots have been associated primarily with neutralisation of explosives or reconnaissance. An example is the US PackBot and TALON systems utilized in Iraq and Afghanistan. However, the dynamic improvement of technology, as well as the experience of the war in Ukraine, accelerated the transformation – machines specified as Estonian THEMIS, originally transport, gained weapons modules and became an infantry support.
Poland besides sees this global trend. Instytut Łukasiewicz – PIAP develops projects of autonomous transport, evacuation and combat platforms. The latest consequence of these works is PIAP huntsman – a four-ton vehicle with dimensions of 470 × 220 cm, reaching speeds of up to 50 km/h. Equipped with HD cameras, LIDAR and radar, it can conduct surveillance, mapping of the terrain, and besides cover mechanized troops or boundaries. The modular plan allows integration with the weaponry, including the device weapon Kal. 12.7 mm developed by Tarnów Mechanical Plant.
Another example is the IBIS robot, designed for pyrotechnic activities and reconnaissance, which can besides be utilized for rescue operations thanks to additional accessories. Both systems were positively assessed during the EDA European tests.
The robotics of the military is due not only to the pursuit of modernisation, but besides to the necessity. As the conflict in Ukraine shows, the scale of losses in equipment forces mass and economical production – besides for own needs. Therefore, not only investigation capacity, but besides industrial capacity, and in this respect Poland has a large potential.
The Łukasiewicz network emphasizes that the improvement of home structures is besides crucial from a safety point of view – cognition about the operation of unmanned systems allows not only to make them, but besides to prepare effective methods of defence against them.
Unmanned land vehicles enter an intensive improvement and adaptation phase. Poland, thanks to its own projects and global cooperation, has the chance to become an active associate in this process. In the coming years, it can be expected that their function in the field of combat will increase systematically – both in terms of support and in terms of strictly combat activities.
Source: newseria.pl
