- ARX Robotics converted a standard Zetros truck into a software-defined ground system with teleoperated and optional autonomous control using drive-by-wire technology.
- The company says the upgrade was completed in weeks by integrating ARX Core and Mithra OS, without redesigning the underlying vehicle platform.
ARX Robotics says it has successfully designed and engineered a fully software-defined land system that can be operated remotely and, if required, autonomously, pointing to a shift in how ground logistics and support vehicles could be used in future conflicts.
As noted by the company, the project relies on recent advances in safety-certified drive-by-wire technology, allowing engineers to remove the human driver from the cab and relocate vehicle control to operators positioned at a safe distance from potential threats. The approach is aimed squarely at modern battlefield conditions, where exposure of personnel has become a growing operational risk.
According to a company statement, the system is built around ARX Core and the Mithra OS software stack. Through this digital architecture, a standard Zetros truck was given teleoperated and optionally autonomous capabilities, transforming what the company described as an analogue platform into a fully connected, software-defined vehicle.
ARX Robotics said the conversion process took only weeks rather than years, highlighting what it sees as the advantage of software-led modernization over traditional vehicle redesign programs. Company engineers emphasized that the underlying truck platform itself was not newly developed, but instead adapted through digital integration and remote-control technologies.
“It points toward a new era of ground operations,” the company said in a statement, adding that future vehicles may no longer be defined by the presence of a driver, but by their ability to transport supplies and deliver networked mission capabilities while keeping soldiers and operators out of direct danger.
The demonstration was carried out in cooperation with Daimler Truck AG, the manufacturer of the Zetros platform. According to ARX Robotics, the work shows how an off-the-shelf truck design, already fielded in thousands of vehicles worldwide, can be rapidly adapted into a mission-ready system through software and electronic controls rather than extensive mechanical modification.
Company officials said the Zetros platform was selected because of its existing global footprint and established performance record. By building on a proven commercial design, ARX Robotics argues that militaries and security users could shorten deployment timelines while reducing development and integration costs.
ARX Robotics said its approach is focused on logistics and support missions, including the movement of supplies in contested environments. These tasks have become increasingly dangerous in recent conflicts, where supply routes are often targeted by artillery, drones, and loitering munitions. Remote and autonomous operation, the company said, allows missions to continue without placing drivers directly in harm’s way.
The company also emphasized that the system remains teleoperated, with optional autonomy rather than full independence. This allows human operators to retain control over movement and decision-making, while still benefiting from distance and automation where appropriate. According to ARX Robotics, this hybrid approach is intended to address operational, legal, and safety concerns associated with fully autonomous ground vehicles.