Military Convoys Open to Attack - Autonomous Technologies Some Day To Save Lives - Letter to Editor

Dear Editor:
I saw Carey Russ' recent coverage about autonomous vehicles, and I
thought you may be interested in information about developments of
autonomous technologies specifically for the military to help protect
soldiers in convoys. Each day hundreds of military convoys are
threatened and often become slow-moving targets defending supplies in
Iraq and Afghanistan. Unmanned vehicle transportation is one essential
solution to save lives in combat.  
	
I think your readers would be interested in the initiatives being made
to save lives with future unmanned military vehicles. Oshkosh Truck is
developing its TerraMax, an autonomous truck based on Oshkosh's Medium
Tactical Vehicle Replacement (MTVR) (www.terramax.com). In the height of
the conflict in Iraq, 1,500 MTVRs were in action. TerraMax will be
competing again in the second annual Defense Advanced Research Projects
Agency (DARPA) Grand Challenge on Oct. 8, 2005 (www.grandchallenge.org).
Robotic vehicles with the most advanced autonomous technologies will
traverse more than 175 miles of rugged terrain in the desert Southwest.
DARPA announced 195 entrants for this year's Grand Challenge.  

Let me know if you would be interested in speaking with TerraMax
representatives about its autonomous technologies and military
applications that will be showcased at the Grand Challenge.

*	The 2001 Defense Authorization Act called for one-third of
operational ground combat vehicles to be unmanned by 2015. The purpose
of the Grand Challenge is to help the U.S. Military meet this goal.

*	About 700 convoy trucks are on the Iraqi road each day,
delivering more than 1 million gallons of fuel and half a million meals
at 60 military bases. Convoys are wide open to attack, and drivers risk
their lives each day to deliver crucial supplies.

*	More than 1,000 U.S. troops have died and thousands have been
wounded since the U.S.-led invasion in Iraq in March 2003.

*	The Grand Challenge program was established with support from
the highest levels of the Department of Defense and the U.S. Congress,
reflecting the U.S. military's strong commitment to enhancing national
		security by fostering the development of robotics
technology.

*	TerraMax vehicle platform is an ideal vehicle for autonomous
military operations. The vehicle is currently used in convoy operations.

*	MTVR was originally designed for the U.S. Marine Corps to handle
off-road terrain. The vehicle's proven battle-ready design and ability
to maneuver the world's harshest terrains makes it practical for future
military applications.

Please let me know if you are interested in more information or if you
would like to arrange an interview.

Katie Reynolds
On behalf of Oshkosh Truck
Padilla Speer Beardsley
Phone (612) 455-1706
kreynolds@psbpr.com


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