The team demonstrated how technology developed for the Defense Advanced Research Project Administration's (DARPA) Grand Challenge could be transferred onto a different vehicle platform in a six-week time period. Rockwell Collins, Oshkosh Truck and the University of Parma successfully completed the 132-mile DARPA Grand Challenge race in October 2005.

The technology, utilized on the Oshkosh TerraMax� vehicle for the Grand Challenge, was transferred to the PLS vehicle, which ran seven 3-mile loops, both loaded and unloaded, through a Yuma Proving Grounds desert course, with no human input. Various U.S. Army and Marine personnel either viewed the demonstration or rode on the PLS.

"This is the first demonstration of a fully autonomous heavy logistics vehicle for the U.S. Department of Defense," said Woody Hogle, vice president and general manager of Integrated Systems for Rockwell Collins. "The demonstration proved that the system can be integrated onto various platforms in an accelerated manner while preserving the load carrying capabilities of the vehicle."

Hogle added, "Autonomous navigation gives Army commanders options on how to best deploy their convoy personnel."

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