Mechanical mules, unmanned ground vehicles and other equipment as early as the last century has been proposed, with the current rapid development of scientific and technological progress, many technology companies will be such equipment as the focus of research and development, because these equipment will be able to replace the existing ground vehicles and soldiers to perform tasks to a certain extent, strengthen the combat team combat strength at the same time can reduce the casualties of their own soldiers.
The THeMIS UGV (UGV, Unmanned Ground Vehicle) is an equipment designed and manufactured by the European Mirrem Robotics, it is a relatively small size auxiliary vehicle that can be used as a transport platform and mobile weapons station, and can be deployed with larger conventional vehicles to accompany infantry units on missions.
The THeMIS UGV is different from the 9.5-ton Black Knight intelligent unmanned tank we introduced earlier, which is a small guy with a weight of about 1.6 tons, a length of 2.4 meters, a height of 1.15 meters, a payload of 1200 kg, and a short-range remote control device.
The power of the vehicle is diesel-electric drive, using rubber tracks as a walking part, the track structure is similar to the over-top structure, which can increase the height of the track, wading depth of up to 0.6 meters, some articles point out that its maximum driving speed can reach 80 km / h, and the fuel in the car can support it to run continuously for up to 15 hours.
This remote control vehicle has armor protection, the armor standard is NATO level 3, can withstand the blow of 7.62 × 51 mm armor-piercing bullets, has a certain anti-mine capability, and the 155 mm grenade that explodes 60 meters away does not work on it, which means that soldiers can directly use it as a temporary armored bunker to avoid attacks when needed, and attack against the light fire of the other side.
A payload of more than one ton means that the THeMIS UGV can do a lot of things, it can not only install small weapons stations, carrying various types of machine guns, 40 mm grenade launchers, and even small-caliber cannons, anti-tank missiles, recoilless guns and other equipment, the vehicle itself can also act as a vehicle, can carry the wounded to transfer, or carry some equipment that soldiers temporarily cannot use, such as spare ammunition, night vision goggles, batteries, food, water, etc., is indeed a soldier's right-hand man.
However, the size also limits its combat effectiveness, and the aforementioned "Black Knight" intelligent unmanned tank, this THeMIS UGV in the urban highland remote control distance is only about 1 kilometer, even in the open area is only 2.5 kilometers, which means that the remote controller needs to grasp the distance of the remote control, as well as the surrounding terrain, buildings on the interference of the remote control signal.
Although it has been reported that more than 10 countries in different regions have purchased THeMIS UGVs, including Thailand, it must be admitted that this equipment does not yet have the conditions for large-scale service, and many countries are purchasing less in bulk for technical verification and exploring matching tactics. A large number of service also involves many issues such as budgeting, troop establishment, and the establishment of logistics support systems. However, the Estonian forces in Mali had limited use of the THeMIS UGV in the previous year, using it to transport supplies within the base and to assist the troops during patrols, with some success.
THeMIS UGV has proved in use that it has high reliability and adaptability to hot and hot areas, but at the same time pointed out that it needs to strengthen its anti-interference ability, long-range detection and strike capabilities, increase sensors and so on.
THeMIS UGV can also play a role in other areas, such as a rescue remote control vehicle equipped with a water cannon and water tank, which is a very good equipment, which can replace firefighters in dangerous areas for search and rescue, fire extinguishing and other work.