Diehl Develops Ziesel UGV That Can Follow Infantry Soldiers Autonomously

German company Diehl Defence has presented the Ziesel tracked unmanned ground vehicle (UGV), designed to support infantry units.

The presentation took place at the MSPO exhibition in Poland, Militarnyi reports.

The 350 kg tracked platform can carry a payload of up to 500 kg. The unmanned vehicle measures 1,310 mm in length, 1,230 mm in width, and 600 mm in height, excluding the payload.

The all-electric powertrain provides a maximum torque of 1,000 Nm and allows the vehicle to reach speeds of up to 20 km/h. The platform has a range of up to 40 km and an operational endurance of up to 24 hours. Its design allows it to climb slopes with an inclination of up to 60%.

Diehl Defence’s PLATON-Kit system provides the system’s high level of autonomy. It integrates several control and autonomous-following modes to ease the operator’s workload in combat conditions.

The platform supports remote manual control with assistance functions, as well as a mode that allows it to follow a soldier or another vehicle while maintaining a safe distance.

In Push mode, the UGV moves ahead of the infantry soldier at a set distance, serving as mobile cover. Waypoint-based movement using map data provides autonomous navigation.