Nikola Motor unveils autonomous all-terrain electric military vehicle Reckless
American Company Nikola Motor unveils a new unmanned version of its Reckless electric utility task military vehicle. A video was released on Internet showing the vehicle remotely controlled by a soldier equipped with a 3D vision system. In 2018, the near-silent Nikola Reckless UTV (Unmanned Tactical Vehicle) conducted off-road testing with the United States Marine Corps at Camp Pendleton and Twentynine Palms, Calif.
Reckless is a totally electric all-terrain vehicle which can be remotely controlled by a soldier using a 3D vision system. (Picture source Nikola Motor)
The Reckless OHV (off-highway vehicle) is a totally electric vehicle that can run from 0 to 100 kilometers-per-hour in just over three seconds. The vehicle has a modular capability that can plug and play with a remote weapons station and military drones.
The autonomous version of the Reckless is jointly developed by Nikola Powersports, Planck Aerosystems and AimLock Inc. to create an ideal platform for energy independence and advanced reconnaissance in the field.
Planck Aerosystems builds intelligent systems for next-generation unmanned aerial autonomy and leads the industry in mobile truck-based and vessel-based UAS technologies. Their software enables fully-autonomous UAS landings on moving vessels and vehicles such as the Reckless OHV.
The top of the vehicle is fitted with the AimLock R-M1 a remotely operated weapon station designed and manufactured by AimLock. This is the first and only remotely operated weapon station with automatic target detection, active stabilization and continuous target tracking. The RM-1 can be mounted to virtually any platform— including tripods, buildings, ATVs/UTVs, ground vehicles, boats, and helicopters— providing an ultra-portable system with maximum versatility.
With this new vehicle, the three companies will demonstrate how each of their unique technologies combine to help the military in different mission scenarios and environments by using an advanced vehicle, aviation, and targeting systems.
