Persistent Systems’ MANET Comms Network Supports Rheinmetall Autonomous UGVs

Rheinmetall Canada, Inc., part of the German Rheinmetall group, has signed a long-term agreement (LTA) with Persistent Systems. 

As part of the LTA, Rheinmetall Canada’s Mission Master autonomous unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs) and Path autonomy kit (A-Kit) will join Persistent’s Wave Relay® Ecosystem, an alliance of platform providers utilizing the Wave Relay® mobile ad hoc networking (MANET) as their data/comms network.

The Wave Relay® MANET is standard equipment on more than 20,000 unmanned systems supplied by leading platform providers. Rheinmetall Canada is joining the Ecosystem with the following platforms:

• The Mission Master SP, a flatbed autonomous UGV with a low-signature electric motor for stealthy operation.
• The Mission Master XT, a heavy-duty autonomous UGV designed for carrying platoon payloads in extreme terrain and amphibious conditions.
• The Mission Master CXT, a compact, hybrid propulsion, and extreme terrain autonomous UGV designed to accompany troops in all kinds of missions.
• The PATH Autonomous Kit, a platform-agnostic robotic control software suite that can be seamlessly integrated onto existing manned vehicle fleets.

The Mission Master family of autonomous unmanned ground vehicles is immediately available with the Wave Relay® MANET capability.

Jeffrey Washington, Director of Business Development for Army/UGVs at Persistent, stated, “The Wave Relay® network connects Rheinmetall’s unmanned platforms to a robust, peer-to-peer network that seamlessly shares voice, video, sensor, GPS and other data to users across the battlefield. So, it’s no longer just about one robot and the individual soldier controlling it; it’s about the UGV empowering warfighting teams to deliver a disproportionately large effect on the operational environment.”

Alain Tremblay, Vice-President, Business Development and Innovation at Rheinmetall Canada, commented, “We designed our Mission Master family of uncrewed vehicles to accompany tactical teams across extreme terrain while delivering real-time situational awareness. With this LTA, we ensure that our mission critical data empowers the maximum number of warfighters across the networked battlefield.”