GS Engineering, a Michigan-based vehicle manufacturer, is showcasing its Remote Expeditionary Autonomous Pioneer System (REAPr) at this week’s GVSETS Conference. Described by a company official as a „small, cost-effective” ground vehicle platform, REAPr is specifically designed for use by the US Marines.
SBIR Innovation:
Developed as part of a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) project, REAPr is designed to be rapidly deployable from a V-22 tiltrotor aircraft and highly customizable to meet the diverse needs of the Marine Corps.
A Modular Marvel:
„The Marine Corps wanted basically anything that could be a modular payload on a robot,” Traci Webb, GS Engineering Director of Business Development and Marketing, told Breaking Defense. „They wanted a laundry list of capabilities: be able to fight fires, dig ditches, conduct area denial missions, lift and handle pallets.”
Taking on Risky Missions:
Webb explained that the Marines intend to deploy REAPr in dangerous, high-risk missions to minimize the exposure of troops. Path and trail clearance, as well as explosive hazard defeat, are among the key use cases envisioned for the platform.
Bridging the Gap:
At GVSETS, GS Engineering showcased REAPr fitted with an attachment called the Ultralight Tactical Bridge. This innovative bridge is designed to be placed over gaps in the terrain, a capability that the company argues is generally lacking in „ultralight combat vehicles” due to size, weight, speed, and transportability constraints.
Rapid Development:
GS Engineering was selected for Phase I of the SBIR REAPr in 2022 and for Phase II in 2023. The initial phase focused on demonstrating the feasibility of the USMC concepts through simulation and modeling, using Unreal Engine to rapidly develop a virtual prototype.
Stakeholder Engagement:
Webb emphasized the importance of „an intensive stakeholder engagement activity with the Marines to really understand the context of their problem and requirement set” during the initial phase.
Ahead of Schedule:
Currently in Phase II, GS Engineering is advancing the platform design and building the vehicle’s prototype. „The entire program for us is moving very fast. Right now, we are midway through our Phase II SBIR contract and are developing and implementing different capabilities. But we are a year ahead of our intended development and prototype schedule,” Webb said.
Supporting the DoD:
GS Engineering is also involved in other ground system projects across the DoD through partnerships with defense prime contractors, including supporting the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV), Family of Medium Truck Vehicles (FMTV), and working on the XM30.
