Daimler Truck and ARX Robotics sign LoI to further digitisation and autonomy in military vehicles

Germany’s Daimler Truck and ARX Robotics have signed a letter of intent (LoI) to “jointly drive forward the next generation of digital development in the field of military vehicles”, Daimler Truck announced on 28 March 2025.

The companies are looking to integrate robotics and artificial intelligence (AI) technologies from ARX Robotics into vehicle platforms from Daimler Truck in and thus achieve greater networking, operational capability and efficiency with the vehicles. In particular, the military vehicle variants of the Unimog and Zetros series, which the Mercedes-Benz Special Trucks business unit develops, produces and sells, will be enabled for a broader range of tasks through sensor and software modules and the use of AI. In addition to networking, the focus is on teleoperations and autonomous driving in open terrain. The new digital possibilities are based on the innovative Mithra OS operating system from ARX Robotics.

Through equipment upgrades and the integration of the Mithra OS operating system, the vehicle fleets will be given the ability to network with other software-defined systems, such as compatible vehicles or unmanned systems. Daimler Truck noted that this “is particularly important for multi-domain operations, ie missions that involve simultaneous action on the ground and in the air”.

The technological centrepiece of the effort is the ARX Core: the central computing and networking unit that will be installed in the vehicles and supports the integration of various sensors, cameras and radio systems. This enables object recognition and fast data acquisition and transmission combined with the use of artificial intelligence. This should enable the vehicles, for example, to autonomously find the best route in open terrain, carry out remote-controlled landmine clearance or evacuate injured people from risk areas without putting crew members in danger.

In a first step, Mercedes-Benz Zetros prototypes will be equipped with the digital systems from ARX Robotics. After the technical implementation, the partners will test different application scenarios and enable other vehicle types, such as the Unimog, for comprehensive networking, teleoperation and autonomous driving in open terrain.

In order to make the best possible contribution to the renewal of the NATO vehicle fleet, ARX Robotics and Mercedes-Benz Special Trucks are pursuing the approach of equipping new vehicles with digital capabilities or retrofitting them to existing vehicles. The two-pronged approach enables faster implementation and better use of existing resources.

Daniel Zittel, Head of Defence Sales, Mercedes-Benz Special Trucks:

“We are currently investing and growing in the defence sector in order to meet customer needs even better and offer specialised solutions for military tasks,” Daniel Zittel, head of defence sales for Mercedes-Benz Special Trucks, was quoted as saying in a Daimler Truck press release. “We are looking forward to working with ARX Robotics: one of the leading start-ups for autonomous ground systems. Digitalisation and AI will play a key role in the defence sector, especially in cyber defence, defence logistics and international co-operation.”

Marc Wietfeld, co-founder and CEO of ARX Robotics, added, “The future of land forces is software defined, as this is the only way they can act in a closely networked manner when needed. Modern vehicles should therefore be able to incorporate the latest software and AI modules to be an efficient part of the NATO armed forces. The solutions from ARX Robotics, implemented in the off-road vehicles from Mercedes-Benz Special Trucks, can ensure significantly greater efficiency in the defence vehicle sector. Our planned joint project follows a European approach and aims to strengthen the innovative power and competitiveness of the European defence industry.”