The US Army is preparing to integrate a Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) unmanned ground vehicle with an M58 Mine Clearing Line Charge (MICLIC) as part of a live demonstration scheduled for the end of October.
The demonstration will take place under the Machine-Assisted Rugged Soldier autonomous breaching program, according to a report by Janes.
This marks the first time a DARPA-developed UGV will be incorporated into the exercise.
The 36th Engineer Brigade has been rehearsing for the event since early October at Fort Hood, Texas. The unit is expected to use the Robotic Autonomy in Complex Environments with Resiliency (RACER) Heavy Platform (RHP), based on the Textron M5 vehicle, for the exercise.
Adjustments were made to the vehicle’s control parameters to prevent instability while towing.
Overland AI, a key partner in the program, also updated the user interface to improve operator control and situational awareness during the upcoming demonstration.
DARPA RACER Heavy Platform
The DARPA RACER HEAVY program aims to develop unmanned ground vehicles capable of navigating complex terrain with minimal human intervention.
The Heavy Platform variant is a 12-ton tracked vehicle built to operate autonomously across off-road environments, allowing it to assist in missions such as breaching minefields or clearing obstacles.
In April 2024, DARPA successfully demonstrated the RHP’s off-road mobility and autonomous navigation capabilities in large-scale field tests.
The platform’s integration with a live mine-clearing system marks a key step toward operational use, bridging experimental autonomy research with army engineering operations.
The army’s collaboration with DARPA aligns with a broader push to incorporate robotic and autonomous systems across combat and support formations.
Similar efforts include the Robotic Combat Vehicle initiative and the Autonomous Ground Resupply program, both of which aim to reduce risk to soldiers while improving mission speed and effectiveness.
