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An all-terrain hybrid ground vehicle that allows injured soldiers to drive while lying down is being operated by the British Army.
The HIPPO Hybrid Amphibious Wheeled Carrier (HAWC) is the only autonomous ground vehicle that has an operational driver’s seat as a precautionary measure in case the batteries go flat.
Seen as the future of the battlefield, self-driving tanks are considered an infinitely safer way of transporting kit and extracting casualties from potentially hazardous front lines.
As the British Army continues to cut troops to reduce its size from about 76,000 soldiers to 73,000 by 2025, unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs) will play a more prominent role in the battlespace. The HAWC, designed to go forward with troops, not only operates autonomously but also allows the soldier to take control of the vehicle if under attack.
In addition to a driver’s seat and pedals, the vehicle can be operated by a remote control joystick in the event that soldiers have been injured and cannot sit in the driver’s seat.
Speaking to The Telegraph at the Defence and Security Equipment International exhibition in London, Robert O’Connor, International Business Development at HIPPO Multipower, added: “Even if injured, the soldier could still lie down in the back of the vehicle and operate it with the joystick. If the HAWC is traveling on complex terrain, and for whatever reason, the battery goes flat, a person can start driving it. No other UGV can do that.”
He added that the HAWC’s ability to hybrid drive gives troops added “stealth,” while the driver’s seat proved “every so often robots need humans in control to get somewhere.”
When operating on battery power alone, the HAWC has a low acoustic and thermal signature.
Already in use
The HAWC is fitted with an integrated diesel engine that delivers endurance and range. In addition, the HAWC, which is already in use with 16 Air Assault Brigade and will be further trialed by 2 Yorks later this year, has a 15 KW diesel generator—considerably more power than most lightweight field generators, which have less than 5 KW. With a full tank, the HAWC has a range of over 200 km.
“It means if the battery goes flat, the generator can be switched on,” Mr O’Connor said, adding that it has a large enough energy supply to run a full ops room from the field and charge a multitude of devices, including remote weapon stations, surveillance equipment, and engineering tools.
The HAWC is also equipped with a 30 mm cannon and can drive up to 20 mph over rough terrain.
Mr O’Connor explained that the HAWC was designed to be air portable but also to have the terrain accessibility to allow it to operate in jungles, forests, mountains, deserts, and towns.
One defense source added that HAWCs are deemed “important” in current warfare because of the desire to attack the logistics chain. “If the supply chain is attacked, it stops the ability to resupply,” they said. “But this UGV is totally self-sufficient, so it can’t be obstructed in typical ways, making the troops using it more lethal to adversaries.”