Forterra, a US-based company specializing in autonomous vehicles, has deployed over 100 self-driving ATVs in conflict zones of Ukraine for nine months.

These Lancer vehicles, based on Polaris ATVs with custom sensors and compute stacks, are gas-powered and can carry up to 750 kg of cargo, offering greater versatility than Ukraine's battery-powered UGVs.The deployment is part of a US defense initiative supporting Ukrainian resistance against Russian forces.While aerial drones dominate media attention, ground-based autonomy is gaining traction due to vulnerabilities in no-go zones from drone attacks.Ukrainian soldiers report that the vehicles have completed over 1,100 missions, driven 2,500 miles, and evacuated 52 casualties.

However, challenges remain, including terrain-related losses and the need for human oversight as autonomous systems struggle with real-time threat detection.

Forterra's experience highlights both progress in military robotics and limitations of current AI capabilities, positioning the company to compete for national security contracts while emphasizing the need for cheaper, more resilient UGVs.