Unmanned Ground
Combat Vehicle



Application



Spinner leading the way

The next generation of autonomous military vehicles must have an extraordinary capability to surmount terrain obstacles, as well as survive and recover from impacts with obstacles and unpredictable terrain. They must also be fuel efficient and highly reliable so that they can conduct long missions with minimal logistical support.

Resilience, or a vehicle’s ability to withstand considerable abuse during a mission and continue, achieving forward progress, became a key driver as the UGCV program evolved. Such abuse is common to unmanned vehicles that are controlled by distant teleoperators or by semi-autonomous sensors and software.

To focus prototype development, DARPA established primary design metrics:

•	Obstacle capability (1m+ positive, 2m negative, 35 slopes)

•	Resilience (withstand abusive use while remaining lightweight)

•	Endurance (14-day missions; 450 km range without refueling)

•	Payload Fraction (>25% of gross vehicle weight)

Spinner’s demonstrated performance during two years of intense testing in extremely rugged terrain exceeded these metrics.

Spinner takes maximal advantage of the uncrewed UGCV aspect through its inverting design as well as the unique hull configuration that accommodates its large continuous payload bay, which rotates to position payloads upright or downward. In addition to rollover crash survivability, the hull, suspension and wheels have been designed for extreme frontal impacts from striking a tree, rock or unseen ditch at speed. Despite its large size, Spinner is very stealthy due to its low profile and quiet hybrid operation.