The Polaris RZR has established itself as the world’s most powerful UTV, perfect for off-road activities, hunting, and adventures in rough terrain.
Now, Polaris will transform it into an autonomous ground drone for military use, equipped with an artificial intelligence system and a machine gun.
The ULTRA, developed by the American company Overland AI, is based on a Polaris RZR, but modified to make it “a revolutionary unmanned autonomous ground vehicle built for the battlefield,” according to the company.
“Modular, rugged, and designed to operate beyond line of sight in contested environments, the ULTRA offers unmatched mobility and combat power,” Overland AI added, saying it was “built for the relentless.”
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The autonomous vehicle uses a Lidar sensor, a stereocam, and a cost map to determine which direction it should go. Its top speed is only 56 km/h, but it still retains the 999 cc engine with 114 hp.
Additionally, since it has no cabin, it can safely carry more than 450 kg in payload. This means it can be equipped with all kinds of necessary equipment.
With this, Overland AI stated it can be used to resupply troops as well as a tool for chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) detection and mitigation.
The ULTRA RZR drone is currently being tested by the United States Army, including use with paratroopers. Whether the ULTRA will actually be implemented by the US military is another story.
However, considering the strong interest of the US military in using drones and artificial intelligence to minimize soldier casualties in battle, it is very likely we will see the ULTRA in combat in the near future.
Photo and video: U.S. Army / YouTube @OverlandAI. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
