Autonomous off-road mobility is becoming a critical requirement for various military operations, including maneuvering in rugged environments and disaster relief. Vehicles in these missions will require sensors and software to navigate unexpected obstacles and have the hardware necessary to interact with these potentially difficult elements. Some of the challenges autonomous vehicles may face include objects that do not inhibit forward movements but occlude or confuse sensors, such as tall grass, brush, or debris. Similarly, other obstacles, such as fences or glass, may not be easily detectable given existing technology.

These systems should also be built around the fundamentals guiding trusted or assured autonomy, which encourage developing technologies that can operate with minimal human intervention. These systems must be designed to surmount potentially more challenging scenarios than simple navigation challenges and may require higher-level cognition.