A fully autonomous vehicle capable of performing military operations such as reconnaissance and supply transport has been developed. Its most notable feature is that it can navigate without relying on the Global Positioning System (GPS). The vehicle is expected to see wide use in rugged terrains like caves and valleys, where GPS signals are often unavailable.

In mid-April, U.S. company Overland AI announced the development of ULTRA, a fully autonomous military vehicle. Measuring 3.9 meters in length, ULTRA is longer than a compact car. Thanks to its relatively large size, it can conduct reconnaissance missions while equipped with various electronic devices or transport supplies such as food and water. It can also be outfitted with communication devices to serve as a temporary launch and landing site for drones. The vehicle is capable of carrying up to 450 kilograms of equipment or cargo.

Powered by an internal combustion engine, ULTRA can reach a top speed of 56 km/h and travel up to 160 kilometers on a full tank of fuel, offering both excellent transport capacity and mobility.

However, ULTRA's true innovation lies elsewhere. It can operate even in areas where GPS signals are completely unavailable. This capability is made possible by Overland AI’s proprietary system, OverDrive, installed in the vehicle.

OverDrive is equipped with a range of technologies, including LiDAR sensors, which use lasers to detect the location and shape of objects, and stereo cameras with dual lenses that provide a sense of depth perception. By maximizing the information collected from these sensors, ULTRA can autonomously navigate to designated locations without any reliance on GPS.

In essence, ULTRA is the technical embodiment of the behavior of a person arriving in an unfamiliar place without a map and scanning the surrounding buildings and terrain to find his or her destination. It can navigate through tunnels, caves, jungles, and valleys with poor GPS signals. It represents the application of the highest level of commercial autonomous driving technology to military vehicles.

Overland AI said, “ULTRA will enable the expansion of operational range for allied forces while significantly reducing the risk of human casualties.”