Video

Video by Douglas Halleaux

[VO] Army dedicates autonomous leader-follower vehicles to fallen Soldiers

DEVCOM Ground Vehicle Systems Center

April 9, 2019 | 1:07

SCRIPT FOLLOWS:

Here at Fort Bliss, straddling Texas and New Mexico, the Army Engineers who are working to bring automated driving to the military’s trucking units are taking a knee and holding a special ceremony. As the very first “Automated Leader-Follower” trucks are prepared for Soldiers’ hands, the leaders nurturing the technology want to be sure the inspiration for the technology’s advancement is never forgotten. These Army Engieners are hosting a ceremony to dedicate each of the first sixteen autonomous leader-follower vehicles to one of sixteen fallen Motor Vehicle Operator Soldiers who was killed in Iraq and Afghanistan. The trucks will carry special data plates on them, describing the service and sacrifice of each of these fallen Soldiers. Next for these trucks is more testing, then the first two sets for Soldier use will go to Fort Sill and Fort Polk later this year.