Forterra

The Challenge

Off-road driving in combat environments comes with its own set of obstacles: no lane markings and unfamiliar terrain. DoD ground vehicles need to traverse complex design domains, such as extreme temperature and GPS-degraded denied regions, and low-light and weather-impaired environments. These requirements necessitate an autonomy platform that is flexible, rugged, and reliable across roadway conditions.

The Solution

Core to the way that Forterra’s autonomy platform, AutoDrive, operates is its perception stack, which is largely built around lidar. Forterra’s AutoDrive platform is equipped with multiple OS digital lidar sensors from Ouster for maximum visibility around the vehicle, in addition to cameras and radar. Defense applications are often working in foggy, dusty and rainy environments, and lidar is the key enabling sensor for the autonomy system to navigate effectively and safely in the harshest conditions.

Forterra’s autonomous capabilities are being applied to military vehicles on and off-road, as well as commercial trucks. Forterra was selected to develop systems for four active DoD programs:

• Robotic Combat Vehicle (RCV) program
• Autonomous Transport Vehicle System (ATV-S) program (also known as the the Ground Expeditionary Autonomous Retrofit System or GEARS)
• Remotely Operated Ground Unit for Expeditionary Fires (ROGUE Fires) program
• Squad–Multipurpose Equipment Transport (SMET) program

Forterra’s autonomy platform will help America’s Armed Forces safely conduct reconnaissance, troop supply missions, and related tasks during ground warfare to keep soldiers out of harm's way. Forterra has shipped over 100 vehicles, operating a cumulative 400,000 miles. Its technology is currently operating in U.S. military programs in over ten countries.

Ouster is committed to the responsible use of lidar technology. For more information on our policy regarding the use of our products for military and security applications, see Ouster’s Engagement and Responsible Use Principles.