General Motors developed an unmanned cargo platform on hydrogen

Unmanned cargo platforms will definitely be able to occupy their niche in the future. To reduce their size and improve other performance, the developers from General Motors decided to remove all unnecessary, abandoning the cockpit and other elements become atavism. Instead of all this, in the base model they left only a four-wheeled platform the size of a cargo container controlled by an autopilot program. If desired, you can put the cabin, equip the closed body and add a few more modules to the basic design.

The idea of ​​the developers is simple: such an automated truck can be used in a variety of conditions, quickly delivering it to places of natural disasters, for excavations, to use such units in the construction of mobile settlements for peaceful and military purposes. In ports and warehouses, such automated platforms are also useful.

The novelty SURUS is called and works on a new hydrogen system developed in cooperation with specialists of Honda auto concern. In addition, each wheel is connected to its own electric drive, so if necessary, the platform can independently switch between hydrogen and electric motor. In the future, the developers plan to leave SURUS only electric traction, but so far they are testing the novelty in a hybrid mode. Already, on one battery charge SURUS is able to drive about 600 kilometers.

The SURUS platform performs not only the functions of cargo transportation, but also helps GM to test its own unmanned designs. In the future, the concern is going to conclude contracts for the supply of SURUS to military and government, but it does not disclose exact terms, as well as prices.

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