Looking over the increasing numbers and weight of equipment soldiers carry, General Dynamics [GD] came up with MUTT–the Multi-Utility Tactical Transport, a company executive said.
Photo: General Dynamics Land Systems
“We looked at what is the simplest thing to provide to lighten the soldier’s load, that offers a variety of utility and is far more affordable than anything fully autonomous,” said Don Kotchman, vice president, Tracked Combat Vehicles, General Dynamics Land Systems. The solution was MUTT, which can be attached to a soldier’s gear for hands free operation.
What you want is the soldier, Marine, or other service personnel, to “focus on whatever else they’re doing, while MUTT follows” over steep slopes, through sand, mud and water, he said at the Army’s annual AUSA symposium last week in Washington.
The concept is for one platform with a fire-team load, or two per squad.
“Mutt is made as a kit, based on tethered sensor suite,” Kotchman said. Sensors measure distance and angles, feed control algorithms that link to the motors, and then the Mutt follows the soldier, responding to tension on the tether. Typically, MUTT travels about four miles per hour and can dash up to 8 miles an hour.
Based on the tension on the tether, the MUTT adjusts to a soldier’s speed, ranging from four miles an hour to a dash speed of eight miles an hour, as a soldier is either walking or running. A soldier can lead a linked convoy of MUTTs as well.
“It’s a 600-pound vehicle that holds 600 pounds of stuff,” Kotchman said. MUTT can even swim with a 300-pound load. It can be used day or night in all weather. It’s reliable, and can be maintained by tools the vehicle carries. The quiet vehicle uses a JP-8 compatible hybrid power plant, and is set up for operating using a fuel cell in the future.
MUTT can use wheels or tracks interchangeably and, if a soldier gets stuck, he can actually turn around and push the system back, “like a wheelbarrow,” he said.
It’s already been demonstrated with weapons and a litter for medical evacuation, as well as carrying soldier gear, fuel or water cans, various supplies–whatever can be piled on, Kotchman said.