The six-wheeled electric vehicle dubbed the
intelligence UGV (I-UGV), unveiled in July 2021. Hanwha Defence has previously
showcased that a four-wheeled 1.5-ton electric vehicle that can move at a top
speed of 30 kilometres per hour on paved roads. The M-UGV can be controlled
remotely or autonomously to carry out various surveillance, logistics
transport, evacuation of casualties, and combat engagement missions.
According to a statement issued by Hanwha
Defence on October 8, the field demonstration of an I-UGV began at an army
infantry division to evaluate various capabilities such as remote control,
GPS-based autonomous driving, and remote-controlled weapon system (RCWS). Hanwha stated that the I-UGV would be
remotely controlled or operated autonomously on battlefields for surveillance
missions. It has a low silhouette for such missions and is equipped with airless tyres.
The I-UGV, like its smaller brother M-UGV, may
perform missions like reconnaissance, communication relay, logistical
transport, casualty transport, and close combat. The RCWS from Hanwha Defence is
an artificial intelligence-based weapon turret system. It can detect gunfire
and fire back in the direction of the source of the sound.
When the radio signal is lost, the six-wheeled
I-UGV will attempt to re-establish communication with the control tower. If it
cannot reconnect with the control tower, the I-UGV will return to its starting
location independently.