Australian soldiers from the Regional Force Surveillance Group operate the Ground Uncrewed System (GUS). Picture: © Department of Defence
Diggers are now testing a new ‘tool’ in protecting and monitoring Australia’s borders – of the robotic kind.
The Australian Army’s Regional Force Surveillance Group (RFSG) Pilbara Regiment have been putting the Ground Uncrewed System (or GUS) through its paces.
GUS is an Australian-developed surveillance robot and is equipped with cameras and sensors to provide surveillance for more than 30 continuous days on battery power.
The Defence Department said in a statement that an on-board liquid fuel generator recharges the battery, when it is low, to extend GUS’s mission endurance even further.
The Army’s Director-General for Future Land Warfare, Brigadier James Davis, says they are committed to developing new and emerging technological capabilities.
“Placing this equipment in the hands of the end users such as RFSG allows us to ‘learn by’,” Brigadier Davis says.
The Army’s 13th Engineer Regiment has trialled GUS under different conditions, including deployment in the international Exercise Talisman Sabre in 2023.
GUS can detect moving objects and transmit this information to a remote operator.
According to Defence, GUS has potential to remove soldiers from harsh environments and expand the surveillance area.
Australian Army and industry partner Outlook Industries have worked together to develop GUS.
Research and development are taking place in Yinnar, Victoria.
The use of locally sourced materials and creation of new jobs has brought a welcome economic boost to the Gippsland community, Defence says.
“Working with sovereign industry unlocks novel ideas and strengthens Australia’s industrial base. Project GUS demonstrates what can be achieved locally,” Brigadier Davis said.
GUS was developed by Australian company Outlook Industries to enable their intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance mission in northern Australia.
An earlier version was developed to help combat poachers in Africa by acting as a surveillance drone.
