A recent story on cnet.com says that by 2015, the government wants 30 percent of all military vehicles to be unmanned. The advancements made in artificial intelligence (AI) as well major improvements to lightweight, long-lasting computer systems, this plan might not be as far-fetched as it sounds. There’s a new automated machine being developed and tested by the U.S. Marines that just might added to the military branch sometime in the future.

The new vehicle’s name is GUSS, Ground Unmanned Support Surrogate. It’s an autonomous off-road vehicle similar in design and shape to a utility-terrain vehicle (UTV). It can used for troop support in a number of ways, as it can carry heavy loads a squad might need or quickly evacuate injured soldiers back to base on its own.

The story notes that the vehicle can carry up to 1,800 pounds; move at a pace roughly equivalent to a troop’s walking speed (about 5 mph); and identify its environment with an array of sensors and use the data to navigate on its own without input.

Check out the video below for a closer look, and for more info check out the story on cnet.com.

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