Deep Orange 15: US Army unveils student-built autonomous rescue vehicle

The US Army’s Combat Capabilities Development Command (DEVCOM) has unveiled a groundbreaking semi-autonomous ground rescue vehicle, Deep Orange 15.

This futuristic vehicle has been designed by Clemson University students to revolutionize search and rescue operations.

This cutting-edge vehicle represents the 15th iteration of Clemson’s esteemed Deep Orange program.

Notably, the Deep Orange 15 is equipped with numerous advanced technologies designed to tackle the most challenging scenarios faced during rescue operations.

Advanced technologies for challenging missions

Its semi-active suspension system ensures a smooth and stable ride even on rough terrain. Meanwhile, the innovative litter-loading mechanism facilitates the safe and efficient transport of injured individuals.

The vehicle’s high-voltage battery powers a series hybrid powertrain, providing exceptional performance and efficiency. Besides, a rotating passenger seat to assist victims further enhance the vehicle’s adaptability.

One of the most remarkable features of Deep Orange 15 is its semi-autonomous operation. The vehicle can perform self-driving functions, freeing the human driver to focus on providing crucial medical care to injured personnel. This capability proves invaluable in situations where every second counts, such as natural disasters or remote wilderness rescues.

“The vehicle and two passengers must get to the scene within the golden hour (hour of time in which medical assistance is crucial for survival), create a digital map of the area, and make it back autonomously with the injured person and one passenger while the original driver stays behind at the scene to help others who are in need of assistance,” explained the project’s press release.

Moreover, in the aftermath of a natural disaster, the vehicle can navigate through debris-strewn areas, autonomously map the terrain, and transport injured individuals to safety.

Similarly, in remote wilderness rescues, the vehicle can traverse rugged terrain to reach stranded hikers or climbers, providing critical medical attention en route to a hospital.

Collaborative development

The development of Deep Orange 15 was made possible through a collaborative effort.

The project involves Clemson’s Virtual Prototyping of Autonomy-Enabled Ground Systems program (VIPR-GS), the US Army’s DEVCOM Ground Vehicle Systems Center (GVSC), and several industry partners, including Brembo, Fox Racing, and North American Rescue.

The US Army , in particular, sees tremendous potential in the application of autonomous vehicles for various military operations.

“Through our digital transformation, virtual prototyping and digital engineering practices will enable us to design ground vehicles from a formations perspective and understand how specific technologies provide warfighting capabilities up-front, long before we go into production decisions,” said David Gorsich, the chief scientist at GVSC.

“The modeling and simulation done at Clemson and the teamwork in programs like Deep Orange are exemplars of how the Army Futures Command shapes the future.”

Shaping the future

The unveiling of Deep Orange 15 marks a significant step towards the realization of fully autonomous ground vehicles for search and rescue missions.

Interestingly, the students working on the project designed and built a prototype of the rescue vehicle, Deep Orange 15, to meet the requirements of the US Army in just 18 months.

“Our Deep Orange students collaborated across an 18-month period to develop this autonomous, high-speed, off-road relief vehicle from the ground up,” concluded Robert Prucka, the faculty lead on Deep Orange 15.