US unveils unmanned ATV to go with 'killer Humvee robots'

The United States has unveiled its latest technological breakthrough – an all-terrain vehicle capable of driving itself while supporting the army's newly tested'robotic killer Humvees.' The new Polaris MRZR X is an optionally manned dune buggy ATV that can carry at least 1,000 pounds of equipment across the battle field. 'The MRZR is the preferred platform among infantry units and Special Forces worldwide, which helps make its integration and the transition from manned to unmanned systems easier for the warfighter,' said John Olson, the general manager of Polaris Government and Defense. Polaris Government and Defense is a division of Polaris Industries, the US manufacturer of all-terrain vehicles. 'The MRZR X maintains the MRZR mission profile and payload our customers are accustomed to, plus it has additional robotic and networked capabilities to further support war fighters,' Olson said. The new autonomous ATV incorporates technology from Applied Research Associates (ARA) and Neya Systems, two firms known for developing unmanned defense products.