- The Bundeswehr acquires a fourth Automated Driverless Testing Solution from AB Dynamics
- The solution removes drivers from arduous durability tests, increasing safety, improving efficiency and generating more accurate data
- A driverless robot system can significantly reduce testing mileage and enable 24/7 testing
Bradford on Avon, UK, 17th March 2026. The Bundeswehr (German defence force) has expanded its use of AB Dynamics’ driving robot technology, acquiring a fourth Automated Driverless Testing Solution.
The system is used at the Bundeswehr’s Technical Centre for Land-Based Vehicle Systems (WTD 41) in Trier, where armoured and logistics vehicles are subjected to extreme driving conditions to assess their durability and readiness for operational deployment. This includes driving over severely uneven surfaces, such as corrugated tracks, substantial potholes and cobblestones. Test sessions can be limited to just 30 minutes at a time, depending on the vehicle. Driving robots eliminate the need for human test drivers to endure these physically punishing conditions.
AB Dynamics’ solution comprises pedal, steering and various gearchange robots, motion packs, an encrypted communication network, base station and comprehensive software for planning test routes and monitoring the driverless vehicles. The solution enables vehicles to follow precise test courses with centimetre-level accuracy, ensuring consistent and repeatable results.
AB Dynamics has been working with the Bundeswehr since 2011, supporting the adoption and rollout of its driverless robot systems. Depending on the type of vehicle and the specific test requirements, the system can reduce the amount of testing a vehicle requires thanks to the precision and repeatability of robot-controlled testing. This reduction in testing mileage delivers substantial time and cost savings. The mileage could also be completed more quickly through continuous 24/7 operations without requiring driver rotations.
“The Bundeswehr’s continued investment in our Automated Driverless Testing Solution validates the transformative impact of robotic systems in vehicle development,” said Dr Andrew Pick, Business Director – Track Test Systems at AB Dynamics. “The expansion to a fourth system demonstrates the strength of our technology and the value of removing humans from extreme durability testing.”
Since beginning work with the Bundeswehr, the AB Dynamics Group has gone on to launch ABD Solutions. The company extends the driverless robotic technology beyond applications solely focussed on testing to automate the day-to-day operation of defence, mining and heavy industry vehicles.
About AB Dynamics
AB Dynamics is an automotive test system supplier with a diverse range of track and laboratory testing equipment and services. From suspension and steering development machines to driving robots and ADAS targets and platforms, AB Dynamics supplies all of the world’s most successful vehicle manufacturers. If you would like to learn more about AB Dynamics and its solutions, please visit abdynamics.com.
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© Bundeswehr/Dirk Bannert |
