New projects developing dual-use technology

The Swedish National Road and Transport Research Institute (VTI) is working on new dual-use technical solutions – i.e., technology that has both civilian and military applications. In two new projects, VTI will trial autonomous tracked vehicles on snowmobile trails and civilian drone systems adapted for military logistics.

In the first project, Autonomous Transportation on Snowmobile Trails: Needs-led Defence Innovation for the Transparent Battlefield, AI self-driving technology developed by Einride will be installed in a Hägglund tracked all-terrain vehicle. The self-driving vehicle will then be tested on snowmobile trails in northern Sweden – with a human safety driver.

The AI driver is already in use in Einride’s autonomous trucks but has yet to be utilised in other vehicles. Using snowmobile trails will allow the research to get started quickly and smoothly.

“As long as there is snow, all that is needed is the landowner’s permission. Using public roads, on the other hand, is often a difficult and complicated process. Snowmobile trails are also generally an underused infrastructure resource that society should make more use of,” says VTI analyst and project manager Pia Kristiansson.

In peacetime, autonomous tracked vehicles can be used in emergencies to, for example, deliver food and materials to nursing homes, home care services and assisted living facilities. In wartime, the vehicles can be commandeered by the armed forces for front-line logistics. The self-driving function separates the driver from the cargo, improving safety, and swarms of vehicles can be sent out to confuse the enemy.

The second project, Drone Logistics on the Front Line: Needs-led Defence Innovation for the Transparent Battlefield, will modify an existing civilian transport system for military use. The technology is question is a drone system from the Norwegian company Aviant, which is currently used to deliver food in the Stockholm archipelago.

In a military capacity, the drones could be used to transport food, water and ammunition to troops on the front line. For civilian use, the modified system could be used to quickly deliver spare parts for, for example, forestry machines.

The project will also trial satellite-free navigation to reduce the risk of disruption, and here too confusing the enemy is vital.

“The military need to move logistics centres away from the front line can be met by the same technology used for a civilian transport system. Both need to function in an extreme climate, cover large areas and be resilient against disruption and highly autonomous,” notes Kristiansson.

The project Autonomous Transportation of Snowmobile Trails is a collaboration with Einride, Lund University, Bussgods i Norr, the Swedish Defence University and a number of other partners. The budget is SEK 11 million, including a grant of SEK 7 million from Vinnova.

The project Drone Logistics on the Front Line is a collaboration with Nordluft Automation, Lund University, Bussgods i Norr and several other partners. The budget is SEK 6 million, including a grant of SEK 4.9 million from Vinnova.

Both have a project period of one year and start now.

Translation: CBG