V4 Chiefs of Defence discuss defence issues – even those related to autonomous robotic solutions for armed forces

A Visegrad Group Chiefs of Defence meeting took place in Hungary on 16 June 2022. V4 Chiefs of Defence discussed not only the Ukraine crisis, but also options for closer collaboration on military exercises and possible transformation projects.

A V4 Innovation Challenge Day was held concurrently with the meeting of the heads of the Armed Forces. The aim of the event was to exchange expertise on unmanned ground vehicles (UGV) with the potential to be fielded with the armed forces in the future.

The V4 Innovation Challenge Day was attended by teams from Slovakia, Hungary and Czechia. Their robotic vehicles were challenged to complete an obstacle course in the shortest time possible. The obstacle course reflected a variety of scenarios where autonomous robots can be employed on operations. The event was organised in close coordination with the University of Debrecen.

As part of the event, the V4 teams presented autonomous unmanned ground vehicle (UGV) solutions to address the needs of the armed forces. The SVK team of engineers and experts from RoboTech Vision excelled in all disciplines. The company specialises in the R&D of mobile robotics, to include autonomous navigation algorithms, artificial intelligence (AI), neuro networking, visual systems and voice commands.

The MOD wants to collaborate with start-ups and innovation businesses to bring more sophisticated and disruptive technologies to Defence and the Armed Forces. This ambition is line with NATO's and the EU's strategic direction on the use of defence innovation solutions. The contest confirmed that Slovakia has businesses with high innovation potential for the defence sector.

The participation of the SVK team in the V4 Innovation Challenge Day was coordinated by the SVK MOD's Projects Investment and Funding Division. This is responsible for supporting the MOD's collaborative initiatives with deep-tech businesses.