Military vehicles battle for autonomy at lower cost

Engineers are adding sensors, more powerful micros and faster networks as they automate tasks and pave the way to autonomy.

The race to add digital capabilities to military vehicles is challenging engineers as they strive to create sophisticated systems that can be altered and upgraded without issues. Networking and architectural strategies rely on standards that help keep costs under control while giving warfighters more automated features and functions.

Many mainstream ground vehicles haven't seen the focus given drones and aircraft, but terrestrial vehicles are catching up. More sensors, networks and advanced microcontrollers are being deployed to help warfighters better understand situations and respond quickly. Automated systems handle some tasks so humans can focus on their roles, paving the way to autonomous mobility.