AI-based tactical vehicle for extreme environments

The AI-based tactical vehicle addresses the challenge of operating in extreme environments by integrating skis, retractable tires, and solar power, ensuring robust protection and stealth communication for efficient supply and personnel transport.

DE202026100962U1Active Publication Date: 2026-06-11APPEL PATRICK

Patent Information

Authority / Receiving Office
DE · DE
Patent Type
Utility models
Current Assignee / Owner
APPEL PATRICK
Filing Date
2026-02-22
Publication Date
2026-06-11

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

Existing vehicles lack the capability to operate efficiently and safely in extreme environments, including difficult terrains and water bodies, while providing robust protection and support for personnel and supplies, and require a compact design for transport.

Method used

A lightweight, AI-based, self-propelled tactical vehicle equipped with skis, retractable tires, remote sensing, and energy harvesting capabilities, along with ballistic armor and stealth communication, enabling operation in diverse terrains and water, and powered by thin-film solar panels.

🎯Benefits of technology

The vehicle provides durable, off-road capability, survivability, and stealth communication, supporting supply delivery and personnel transport in challenging conditions, while minimizing detection and maintaining operational readiness.

✦ Generated by Eureka AI based on patent content.

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Abstract

The vehicle is designed for high durability due to its robust construction, characterized by the fact that many of its elements, such as: the ski for snow, swamp, and water (1), which allows the vehicle to move across various terrains; the low-pressure tires (2), which provide good traction and must be puncture-proof; the retractable front tire (3) and the retractable shock absorber (11), which allow the front wheel to be retracted for traversing snow, swamp, and water; and the light armor plating (5) and the light armored door (6), which provide ballistic protection in combat zones.
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Description

[0001] The design of an AI-based, extremely robust, versatile, environmentally friendly, waterproof, self-propelled, portable, intelligent, tactical vehicle includes at least: a pair of skis (for snow, swamp, and water), three low-pressure tires, a retractable front tire, a remote sensing module, light armor (on the front, top, sides, and bottom), a light armored door, some kind of multi-layered insulating film for the internal structure, some kind of rangefinder, a communications module, a reconnaissance module, a retractable shock absorber, a pair of retractable skis, a built-in tow motor, a steel or synthetic rope, and a triple hook. The design presents itself as an efficient, lightweight, robust all-terrain vehicle.

[0002] The skis for snow, swimming, and water skiing (1) can be made of any material that is lightweight, quiet, and facilitates gliding across snow and marshy surfaces, as well as surfing on water. The low-pressure tire (2) can be made of any material that is lightweight, puncture-resistant, and quiet to distribute the vehicle's weight evenly and improve traction. The retractable front tire (3) can be implemented using hydraulic or electric mechanisms to extend the tire in off-road conditions.

[0003] The remote sensing module (4) can consist of object detection mechanisms such as radio and microwave sensors to locate hidden bombs, mines, or IEDs (improvised explosive devices) by analyzing reflected signals, or with techniques such as ground-penetrating radar (GPR) for buried threats (GPR can also detect plastic explosives that metal detectors miss) and millimeter-wave radar for personnel detection. In this case, the signals are transmitted downwards to avoid any radar detection by the enemy.

[0004] The lightweight armored body (5) can consist of a combination of thin-film solar panel, ballistic armor, and Kevlar ballistic fabric. The lightweight armored shell (6) can also be made of ultra-thin ceramic ballistic Kevlar fabric in combination with a thin-film solar panel. The multi-layer insulation (MLI film) (7) is intended for passive thermal control systems and is primarily used to reduce heat loss through thermal radiation. To minimize electromagnetic interference, the insulating layers must be grounded to prevent them from building up a charge and arcing.

[0005] The distance measurement and object detection signal (8) can be any optical or radio frequency. The communication module (9) is intended to enable communication through covert communication techniques. It is designed to conceal data transmission by distributing the signals over a wide frequency band to achieve a low power density, making it difficult to detect or intercept.

[0006] The reconnaissance module (10) could utilize a sensor fusion system with AI-based capabilities to provide situational awareness and keep the crews informed in real time. The retractable shock absorber (11) can be shortened for use in snow, swamp, and water, and can be hydraulically, gas-based, or foam cell-based. It can also consist of twin or single tubes. The retractable ski (12) can be retracted depending on the terrain conditions. It can be extended / retracted electrically or hydraulically.

[0007] The built-in traction motor (13) can be a gearbox DC motor and used for climbing terrain at steep inclines. It should be small and located inside the vehicle at the front. The steel or synthetic cable (14) must be thin and strong enough to support the weight of the vehicle and payload. The triple hook (15) can be made of lightweight brass, stainless steel, wrought iron, or composite material.

[0008] The problem addressed by the invention, as described in claim 1, is to create a highly durable vehicle with a robust design that supports the delivery of supplies and personnel in difficult terrain. The ballistic protection armor increases the survivability of the vehicle and its occupants during an attack.

[0009] The need for fuel in the war zone, as stated in Claim 2, was solved by harvesting energy from the environment to power the vehicle in its hiding place. This is achieved through the integration of thin-film solar panels into the ballistic hull.

[0010] The underlying problem of crossing water and wetlands is shown in claim 3 in that the structure is designed to function like a boat in the water and is powered by a drive-by-wire system via a waterproof wheel hub motor.

[0011] The need for compactness, which can be transported by helicopters or transport aircraft, is specified in claim 4 through the use of lightweight materials, ballistic armor, ceramics and structural materials.

[0012] To increase camouflage and survivability, claim 5 provides an AI-based remote sensing module, a reconnaissance module and a communications module to conceal data transmission so that it is difficult to detect or intercept by distributing signals over a wide frequency band to achieve low power density.

[0013] To provide combat support such as carrying weapons, medical equipment, or serving as command platforms, Claim 6 vehicles offer off-road capability through all-wheel drive with independent suspension. Fig. - Vehicle is stationary with the door open (On-road mode - skis retracted). Fig. - Vehicle in off-road mode for snow and swamp, water conditions (front tires retracted and both skis extended). Fig. - Vehicle used for climbing, equipped with a traction motor that pulls it uphill and downhill or lowers it.

[0014] In Fig. The vehicle's door (6) opens, allowing the crew to place the payload. During this time, the crew can also enter the vehicle for shelter and rest. The solar panels on the light armored hull (5) are used to charge the energy storage system using sunlight. At night or in cold winter conditions, the multi-layered insulation (7) keeps the interior of the vehicle warm and prevents infrared signatures from penetrating the hull. The communications module (9) and the reconnaissance module (10) help the crew communicate with each other while also allowing them to remain alert to potential threats.

[0015] In Fig. - The vehicle is in off-road mode on snow and swamp - the front tire (11) is retracted and both skis (12) are extended. While driving, the vehicle uses a remote sensing module (4) to detect objects and locate hidden mines or IEDs (Improvised Explosive Devices). The low-pressure tire (2) improves traction through the use of a wheel hub motor, which places the drive directly in the wheel for increased efficiency. The remote sensing module (4) on the vehicle's roof monitors the surroundings for enemy drones, troop movements, and infrared / RF signatures. The light armor (5) increases protection against ballistic threats and allows the vehicle to capture sunlight to recharge via thin-film solar cells.The communications module (9) receives all mission-critical information and shares situational awareness with the network by extracting tactical data from the reconnaissance module (10). When crossing bodies of water, the ski (1) can be used to maneuver the vehicle, while the rear wheels (2) provide traction.

[0016] In Fig. When traversing hills or extreme terrain, the traction motor (13) pulls the vehicle upwards via a steel or plastic cable (14) attached to a triple hook at the top of an object. This provides the crew with greater survivability in difficult terrain. In other cases, the same mechanism can be used to slowly lower the vehicle down very steep terrain where the skis could be damaged by the rocky surface. List of reference symbols 1 ski for snow, slush, mud and water 2 low-pressure tires 3 Retractable Tires 4 Remote sensing module 5 Light armor 6 Light armored door 7 Multilayer insulation (MLI film) 8 Distance measurement and object detection signal 9 Communication module 10. Information module 11 Retractable shock absorber 12 Retractable ski 13 Built-in towing motor 14 steel or plastic rope 15 Triple hooks

Claims

The vehicle is designed for high durability due to its robust construction, characterized by the fact that many of its elements, such as: the ski for snow, swamp, and water (1), which allows the vehicle to move across various terrains; the low-pressure tires (2), which provide good traction and must be puncture-proof; the retractable front tire (3) and the retractable shock absorber (11), which allow the front wheel to be retracted for traversing snow, swamp, and water; and the light armor plating (5) and the light armored door (6), which provide ballistic protection in combat zones. The vehicle is designed to be environmentally friendly and self-propelled, thanks to its construction, which incorporates many elements such as: the use of multi-layered insulation (MLI film) (7) to prevent heat loss and reduce weight compared to conventional thermal insulation materials; and the thin-film solar panel integrated into the lightweight armor (5) and the lightweight armored door (6), which serves to charge the energy storage system. The vehicle is waterproof due to its structured construction, which is characterized by the fact that many elements of the vehicle, such as: the light armor (5), which also functions as a boat in the water, and the use of a drive-by-wire system with a waterproof wheel hub motor. The vehicle is designed to be portable, characterized by the use of lightweight materials in many of its components, such as: ceramic ballistic armor only 2.5 mm (0.1 in) thick in DS-SiC and hybrid (60 / 40 - SiC-B4C) for the body (5) and doors (6). It also incorporates thin-film materials such as multi-layer insulation (7) for thermal management. Composite materials are also used for the skis and high-efficiency motors for towing and traction. The vehicle is designed to be intelligent and tactical, characterized by the fact that many of its elements, such as the remote sensing module (4) and the distance measurement and object detection signal (8), are supported by an AI-based algorithm to analyze reflections and determine the distance, angle, and speed of an object. The reconnaissance module (10) on the vehicle's roof is equipped with a sensor fusion system and AI capabilities to detect drones, footprints, infrared signatures, and other hazards. It provides situational awareness and keeps the crew informed in real time. In certain situations, the vehicle is designed to follow the crew as they move through the terrain. The remote control function allows the crew to operate the vehicle in different modes depending on the situational requirements.On the other hand, the communication module enables the obfuscation of data transmission, making it difficult to detect or intercept, as the signals are distributed over a wide frequency band to achieve a low power density. The vehicle's design makes it highly versatile, characterized by numerous features such as: the use of skis (1), retractable skis (12) for off-road capability and all-wheel drive, independent suspension, low-pressure tires (2), and retractable front tires (3) with retractable shock absorbers for agile steering in rough terrain. The combination with light armor (5) and a light armored door (6) allows the vehicle to be used for a variety of tasks, from troop and cargo transport to medical evacuations and combat support.