Photo: L3Harris
Impressive as they may be when it comes to their capabilities, ground drones still look like they've been put together in a hurry. They are utilitarian in design, at times rugged even, but they ultimately get the job done. That is not to say we wouldn't like seeing something sexier-looking being tasked with patrolling some areas in search of dangers. Especially now, that we've seen the Diamondback.
The moniker was slapped by defense contractor L3Harris on a new "autonomous reconnaissance and security vehicle" system it presented during the Association of the United States Army's annual meeting last week. It's a four-wheeled contraption we don't know all there is to know about, but impressive nonetheless.
There are several things that set the Diamondback apart from similar solutions envisioned by others. The most noticeable is the ground drone's outer shell, a beautifully sculpted chunk of (probably) metal with Tesla Cybertruck vibes, looking like it comes straight out of a sci-fi movie.
The shape of the autonomous vehicle is not merely an aesthetic choice. It's a design that's meant to make it stealthy to some extent by reducing its signature.
We don't know what drives the vehicle or how capable it is, other than it is a high-speed machine that can move over a variety of terrains. That's owed to a navigation suite supplied by a company called Overland AI.
We do know the vehicle comes packed with optical systems, communications hardware, and an undisclosed amount of protection, including against airborne drones.
The robot is configurable, meaning it can carry an assortment of payloads, including jamming and anti-jamming hardware. Why, it can even be equipped with its own drones, to be deployed when needed.
The Diamondback was built using commercial components, and that makes it cheap (unclear how much so), but also adaptable when it comes to keeping up with advancements made in technology. Moreover, the machine can be scaled should that be needed.
L3Harris sees the Diamondback as a perfect tool to complement missions conducted with existing classes of robots, and as a potential replacement for certain crewed vehicles. It could also be used in tandem with other autonomous machines.
As per Ed Zoiss, president of L3Harris' Space and Airborne Systems division, this vehicle's main reason for being is to expand "autonomy capabilities, from air and sea, to support robotic vehicles making first contact with threats in land environments."
The defense contractor does not say how advanced it is in the development of the ground drone. We are also not provided with a timeline for its development at the hands of potential customers, but chances are we will probably not have to wait for very long until we see it in action, especially now, in a time when such systems become increasingly important for both military and civilian applications.
There are several things that set the Diamondback apart from similar solutions envisioned by others. The most noticeable is the ground drone's outer shell, a beautifully sculpted chunk of (probably) metal with Tesla Cybertruck vibes, looking like it comes straight out of a sci-fi movie.
The shape of the autonomous vehicle is not merely an aesthetic choice. It's a design that's meant to make it stealthy to some extent by reducing its signature.
We don't know what drives the vehicle or how capable it is, other than it is a high-speed machine that can move over a variety of terrains. That's owed to a navigation suite supplied by a company called Overland AI.
We do know the vehicle comes packed with optical systems, communications hardware, and an undisclosed amount of protection, including against airborne drones.
The robot is configurable, meaning it can carry an assortment of payloads, including jamming and anti-jamming hardware. Why, it can even be equipped with its own drones, to be deployed when needed.
The Diamondback was built using commercial components, and that makes it cheap (unclear how much so), but also adaptable when it comes to keeping up with advancements made in technology. Moreover, the machine can be scaled should that be needed.
L3Harris sees the Diamondback as a perfect tool to complement missions conducted with existing classes of robots, and as a potential replacement for certain crewed vehicles. It could also be used in tandem with other autonomous machines.
As per Ed Zoiss, president of L3Harris' Space and Airborne Systems division, this vehicle's main reason for being is to expand "autonomy capabilities, from air and sea, to support robotic vehicles making first contact with threats in land environments."
The defense contractor does not say how advanced it is in the development of the ground drone. We are also not provided with a timeline for its development at the hands of potential customers, but chances are we will probably not have to wait for very long until we see it in action, especially now, in a time when such systems become increasingly important for both military and civilian applications.
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