Autonomous Technology: A Legacy of Innovation at Oshkosh Defense

For over 20 years, Oshkosh Defense has been at the forefront of autonomous technology. As the battlefield adapts and changes, our team continues to innovate and refine autonomous mobility solutions.  

Like everything at Oshkosh Defense, our autonomous technology is engineered for purpose-built vehicles to meet stringent requirements with the Warfighter in mind.  

“At Oshkosh, our commitment to innovation and decades of experience in transitioning leading-edge technology into fielded systems, enables us to consistently meet the evolving needs of our customers,” said John Beck, Director of Engineering for autonomy and active safety technology at Oshkosh Corporation. “Feedback from Warfighters is invaluable in refining how our solutions are used on the battlefield. Our unmatched ability to tightly integrate advanced technologies into these systems ensures that we consistently deliver superior performance and seamless functionality.”

Two key supervised autonomous solutions that are poised to change the battlefield right now are the PLS A2 for the U.S. Army and the ROGUE-Fires for the U.S. Marine Corps. 

PLS A2

Designed to excel in extreme conditions, the Oshkosh Defense Palletized Load System (PLS) A2 streamlines supply and equipment distribution, while enhancing mission efficiency and safety. The advanced technology of the PLS A2 represents a modernization of the current fleet to meet the needs of the Warfighter by incorporating by-wire and active-safety to the PLS A1. Low-Rate Initial Production (LRIP) is expected to begin in FY25. 

Photo by Oshkosh Defense

The tightly integrated active safety and drive-by-wire technology allows a Soldier to operate the PLS A2 with an added level of safety and situational awareness in either manned or unmanned modes, when equipped with an autonomy kit, providing mission flexibility in force protection and force multiplication. The technology has been transitioned from a prototype to production design and does not change the vehicle’s superior payload capacity, durability, or load handling capability.

The by-wire and active safety systems of the PLS A2 provides significant advantages in terms of vehicle control, safety, and operational flexibility. These systems are crucial for enhancing the performance of military vehicles in challenging environments, while also improving mission efficiency and reducing the risks faced by personnel in logistics operations.

The active safety systems of the PLS are designed to reduce the likelihood of accidents and protect both the vehicle and personnel. Active safety encompasses technologies such as Electronic Stability Control (ESC), Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB), Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), Lane Departure Warning (LDW), and Blind Spot Warning (BSW), which actively monitor the vehicle’s surroundings and intervene when necessary to prevent collisions or other safety risks. These systems are especially important in military operations where vehicles may need to navigate complex terrains, avoid obstacles, or maintain convoy formation. 

“By-Wire” enables the ability to control the PLS driving functions via an open-standards-based interface, namely the Interoperability Profile (IOP), and further amplifies the benefits of active safety on the PLS. IOP facilitates the seamless integration of autonomy kits, which can provide remote control, semi-autonomous, and fully autonomous operation once the kit is integrated. A single manned PLS A2, when equipped with an autonomy kit, can execute a Leader-Follower convoy operations, by guiding multiple unmanned follower vehicles, reducing the number of personnel in high-risk areas while maintaining operational efficiency and convoy coordination. The integration of drive-by-wire along with the other active safety features and IOP interfaces, ensures that PLS A2s can operate safely and efficiently across a wide range of mission profiles while reducing the exposure of Soldiers to hazardous conditions and enhancing the overall effectiveness of military logistics operations.

“Oshkosh Defense has extensive experience developing unmanned systems for tactical wheeled vehicles, always with an eye on fielding,” Beck said. “Today’s by-wire and active safety is the result of multiple generations of development to customer requirements, each taking advantage of the latest in technology, and a proven reliability that is backed by tens of thousands of miles of field testing and government experiments.”

ROGUE-Fires

Developed for the U.S. Marine Corps, the Remotely Operated Ground Unit for Expeditionary (ROGUE) Fires represents a significant advancement in unmanned ground vehicle (UGV) technology. By harnessing the off-road mobility and payload capacity of the Oshkosh Defense Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV), along with Oshkosh’s cutting-edge vehicle innovations, ROGUE-Fires is poised to redefine operational capabilities in contested environments.

Photo by Oshkosh Defense

Originally intended to enhance Ground-Based Anti-Ship Missile (GBASM) operations, ROGUE-Fires is an integral component of a versatile Family of Carriers, accommodating a wide array of payloads with the flexibility to also perform distributed logistics operations. Utilizing the by-wire technology derived from the PLS A2, this cab-less, unmanned launcher platform offers operational flexibility through tethered remote control, teleoperation, or leader-follower modes. A Marine operates the system via a handheld controller, ensuring direct oversight.

While the launcher has autonomous capabilities, the payload fire control is not automated and always requires a decision made by a Marine to ensure safety and security on the field.  

Engineered to Boost Safety & Efficiency on the Battlefield

As the defense sector advances toward comprehensive autonomy within Programs of Record, vehicles like the PLS A2 and ROGUE-Fires are enhancing operational efficiency while minimizing risks to Warfighters through force multiplication and protection, enhanced situational awareness, and resource optimization.

The integration of autonomous systems significantly amplifies the effectiveness of existing forces, allowing military units to achieve operational objectives with reduced manpower. For instance, the leader-follower technology permits a single Soldier to control an initial vehicle, with subsequent units autonomously following. This reduces the number of personnel exposed to high-threat scenarios and frees them to concentrate on other mission-critical tasks, enhancing overall mission effectiveness. The autonomous technology also shifts risk from Warfighter lives to material assets. 

With less cognitive load devoted to vehicle operation, Warfighters can maintain a broader awareness of the battlefield. This enhanced situational understanding can be pivotal in executing successful missions under challenging conditions. The active safety and self-diagnostic capabilities also help minimize mechanical or electrical issues and predict maintenance needs before failures occur. As a result, there’s less vehicle downtime and repair costs, allowing Warfighters to fully benefit from the technology.

Innovation Never Rests: The Future of Autonomy in Defense

Oshkosh Defense has a team of more than 1,000 engineers always looking and working toward the future — a future that includes autonomous technology.

Our team is continuously testing and gathering Warfighter feedback to meet the needs of today’s battlefield — and beyond — with purpose-driven technology.

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