Pentagon Tests GPS-Free War Robots Capable of Operating in Packs

DARPA Tests Autonomous Ground Vehicles at Fort Knox

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency recently evaluated uncrewed ground vehicles, or UGVs, designed to map terrain, gather intelligence, and locate targets independently. During a demonstration at Fort Knox, Kentucky, part of the Robotic Autonomy in Complex Environments with Resiliency program, four autonomous robots conducted surveillance and searched for simulated enemy forces.

According to DARPA technical advisor Jason Gregory, the initiative aims to push sensors forward to the tactical edge while keeping human operators out of direct harm's way. The tests demonstrated that the ground vehicles could operate either cooperatively or independently. Operators managed the missions remotely, assigning tasks, evaluating findings, and ultimately deciding how to engage identified targets using satellite imagery and onboard systems.

A critical focus of the RACER program was ensuring the vehicles could function effectively without GPS navigation. Instead of relying on satellite signals, the UGVs utilized onboard sensors to map their surroundings dynamically while moving. This capability addresses potential vulnerabilities in contested environments where GPS signals might be jammed or unavailable due to terrain interference.

The five-year research program also incorporated insights from the war in Ukraine regarding the tactical deployment of ground robotics. DARPA tested the new software across multiple hardware configurations, including four-wheel all-terrain vehicles and tracked systems, to ensure versatility across different environments.