Ground Vehicle Systems Center

06/11/2026

Our engineers were on hand at the recent IGVC to challenge student teams from across the world with their autonomous robots.

06/09/2026

Earlier this spring, GVSC’s Occupant Protection Team traveled to the Center for Advanced Product Evaluation in Westfield, Indiana, to witness a demonstration of the Advanced Gunner Restraint System (AGRS). Developed by a key industry partner, AGRS enhances Soldier survivability by using specialized sensors to detect rollover events and rapidly secure occupants within the vehicle cabin.

The demonstration served as more than a technical evaluation—it reflects GVSC’s broader approach to innovation: actively removing barriers for industry to access government, creating a faster, more transparent on-ramp to Army problems. By connecting emerging technology developers with platform manufacturers early, GVSC accelerates the transition of promising solutions into operational capability.

This partnership marks a critical step toward modernizing vehicle safety architectures and ensuring advanced occupant protection technologies are incorporated into future platform designs.

U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command / U.S. Army Futures and Concepts Command / U.S. Army Transformation and Training Command

06/08/2026

More than a robotics competition, IGVC gives students hands-on experience solving complex engineering problems while connecting them with career opportunities in national security and advanced technology fields.

U.S. Army Transformation and Training Command / U.S. Army Futures and Concepts Command / U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command / Oakland University

The future of autonomous systems and cutting-edge robotics was on full display last weekend, as university student teams from all over the world joined scientists and engineers from the U.S. Army Ground Vehicle Systems Center at Oakland University for the 33rd annual Intelligent Ground Vehicle Compe...

05/11/2026

GVSC successfully validated a new engine starting aid system for the Family of Medium Tactical Vehicles, replacing a legacy component with a modern solution from a new vendor. The system proved its reliability during an arctic cold-chamber startup test at our world-class Power Energy Vehicle Environmental Laboratory, confirming performance in extreme conditions.

With validation complete, the upgrade will move forward via an Engineering Change Proposal—strengthening cold-weather readiness across the fleet. This effort reflects how GVSC investments stay aligned with the Army’s warfighting strategy, ensuring every dollar directly supports future force readiness and operational overmatch.

U.S. Army Futures and Concepts Command / U.S. Army Transformation and Training Command / U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command

05/04/2026

When readiness is on the line, GVSC innovation makes the difference.

This month, GVSC tackled a critical issue impacting MRAP vehicle readiness in South Korea—high-failure threaded studs with no existing technical data package. Instead of waiting on the supply chain, the team took action: reverse-engineering the part, analyzing its material composition, and delivering a stronger, more durable solution using additive manufacturing.

This resulted in a complete technical data package—allowing for multiple manufacturing methods—and an immediate path to keep vehicles mission-ready.

Additive manufacturing is changing the game—enabling faster production, fewer constraints, and smarter design. From rapid prototyping to durable end-use parts, it allows us to adapt quickly, reduce waste, and stay ahead of challenges.

U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command / U.S. Army Transformation and Training Command / U.S. Army Futures and Concepts Command

04/27/2026

Earlier this month, GVSC, together with the 1st Cavalry Division, conducted the ORION PRIME experimentation at Fort Hood, Texas, bringing together leading industry partners to demonstrate technologies to counter small unmanned aerial system (sUAS) threats and gather Soldier feedback to accelerate capability development.

Over the course of a week, teams successfully integrated and tested 15 systems, validating a full end-to-end networked counter-sUAS “kill chain.” Highlights included several successful defeats of diverse drone threats using kinetic and electronic warfare systems.

The event proved to be a major success. The 1st Cavalry Division has already identified top-performing technologies to carry forward into its upcoming Golden Shield event, while senior Army leaders support the rapid, collaborative approach—one that is set to influence the future of Army counter-sUAS modernization.

U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command / U.S. Army Futures and Concepts Command / U.S. Army Transformation and Training Command

04/15/2026

As a follow-on to our successful initiation of a Soldier Virtual Experiment and technology demonstration at Fort Hood, GVSC hosted 13 Soldiers from the 1st Cavalry Division Transformation in Contact unit to evaluate and shape the next generation of crew-based technologies.

The Soldiers participated in virtual experiment missions and attended tech demos and discussions with multiple industry partners. Soldiers also met with program managers to discuss legacy and future vehicle needs.

In partnership with industry, we also demonstrated cutting-edge tech, including Augmented Reality vision blocks, 3D audio, and enhanced AI-driven Drone Swarming technologies (AiTDR).

This collaboration is on a clear timeline. Based on direct feedback from Soldiers, the goal is to integrate six new crew-based technologies into ground vehicles by fall for their situational training exercise. From there, the tech will be down selected, with the final candidates slated for demonstration during month-long maneuvers at the National Training Center in March.

This is what our permanent bridge between engineers, warfighters, and private industry looks like in action—shortening timelines and bringing combat-relevant capabilities to Soldiers faster than traditional development pathways.

UU.S. Army Transformation and Training Command/ UU.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command/ UU.S. Army Futures and Concepts Command

04/14/2026

Come visit us at our booth in the Army Pavilion at Michigan Defense Expo (MDEX), May 12–14 at Huntington Place in downtown Detroit.

MDEX brings together leaders from government, industry, academia, and the military to strengthen the defense industrial base and advance national security. This year’s focus includes ground systems, autonomy, advanced manufacturing, and emerging technologies.

Stop by to connect with our team and learn how we’re contributing to the future of defense.

Learn more and register: MDEX-NDIA.com

U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command / U.S. Army Futures and Concepts Command / U.S. Army Transformation and Training Command

04/13/2026

After a successful week of field testing at the Detroit Arsenal RACE Track, GVSC—alongside Southwest Research Institute (SwRI)—has validated the CRASH (Cybersecurity for Robotic and Autonomous Systems Hardening) security architecture on an automated Polaris MRZR.

With collaboration from DornerWorks and Michigan Tech Research Institute, the team demonstrated a powerful, multi-layered defense approach designed to safeguard autonomous platforms in complex environments.

What makes CRASH stand out is that it leverages the seL4 microkernel to isolate and protect critical software components—delivering the high level of assurance needed for mission-critical operations.

Looking ahead, the roadmap includes:

• Testing various commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) autonomy stacks within the CRASH architecture.
• Secure, reliable, and scalable software updates in contested environments.
• Advanced encryption and key management for robotic systems.
• Dynamic “defeaturing” and patching of poorly secured COTS components for military-grade cyber hardening.

This effort marks a major step forward in ensuring autonomous systems remain resilient, secure, and mission-ready in the face of sophisticated adversaries.

U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command / U.S. Army Transformation and Training Command / U.S. Army Futures and Concepts Command

03/24/2026

GVSC has postponed next month's Industry Days to better align with Army transformation efforts, reduce burden on industry partners, and shift toward more integrated and targeted engagement through partner events and focused interactions. Stay tuned!