ARX ​​is launching a Firestick-like platform to make military trucks autonomous

A startup with founders who previously served in the German military has developed a product similar to an Amazon Firestick for older defense equipment, complete with a software stack. ARX ​​Robotics claims its system can transform old devices into AI-controlled devices like self-driving trucks.

Back in June of this year, ARX closed a seed funding round of €9 million with the NATO Innovation Fund as lead investor, supported by Project A Ventures and Discovery Ventures.

ARX ​​​​brought unmanned ground vehicles (UGV) to market for the first time and won a very large contract from the German military government (in this case for use in Ukraine).

Now it has launched ARX Mithra OS, an AI-based operating system that transforms military vehicles into intelligent, interconnected autonomous units. The operating system has hardware cameras and sensors that can be mounted on military trucks or similar vehicles. The ARX Autonomy Kit also includes over-the-air updates.

Marc Wietfeld, founder and CEO of Arx Robotics – also a former member of the German army – told TechCrunch that while the “battlefield of the future is digital,” European and other Western armies continue to procure analog systems that have no connection to modern battlefield systems have .

“We have developed software and hardware for unmanned systems primarily on the ground. The thing is: when we were on the front lines in Ukraine – but especially with NATO forces – we discovered the problem that the new means of warfare such as drones, sensors, software, AI, etc. do not match our existing ones Fleets can be connected or work together. ”

He pointed out that the Bundeswehr had procured 3,500 Mercedes trucks, but “nothing is software capable.” Nothing is connected. There’s not even a radio.”

“So we invented a kind of Amazon Firestick for existing legacy fleets of NATO forces. So we’re building robots, but we’re also robotizing the existing fleets,” he said.

In the context of the war with Ukraine, it became clear that networked and autonomous systems have become crucial in modern warfare. However, NATO has outdated weapons arsenals and under-equipped European forces.

Wietfeld claims that the startup has no known competitors in this area: “Instead of having unaffordable and time-consuming replacements, we want to upgrade the things we already have.” And it doesn’t matter whether it’s the Toyotas of the Ukrainian Armed Forces or the Leopard tank or the Challenger tank of the British armed forces. They have to speak one language and have open interfaces.”

There is an opportunity here to transform vehicles into “wingmen,” with fleet intelligence, situational awareness and other aspects of modern warfare.

“The increased willingness to spend military money after the Russian invasion is waning, states are setting other priorities or simply no longer have a budget. Therefore, it will be crucial not only to invest in new technologies, but also to update existing material and adapt it to modern warfare,” said Lieutenant General AD Frank Leidenberger, CEO of BWI, the Bundeswehr’s IT service provider, in a statement .