The Australian company Ungoverned, specializing in mobility technologies, has developed a new self-propelled tracked platform designed for movement on soft ground, mine-hazardous areas and rough terrain with less pressure on the soil than when a person walks.
The platform, known as the Vendetta, is a lightweight electric tracked system characterized by low ground pressure, mechanical simplicity and maneuverability, rather than the characteristics usually associated with small military vehicles.
Documented tests by the company have shown that the Vendetta self-propelled system exerts a pressure of only 2.8 kPa (without a pilot) and 10.2 kPa on the ground when controlled by a pilot weighing 80 kg, while the pressure from a human foot is 24.9 kPa.
According to these results, the pressure exerted by the platform is less than when a person walks. This threshold is crucial in situations where conventional vehicles pose too much risk or have too much impact on the surface.
Vendetta self-propelled system on trial
According to the founder and lead developer of Ungoverned, Dan Baldwin, the platform was created as a result of more than twenty years of work on the concepts of tracked mobility. This is a design that allows you to move through terrain that is normally inaccessible to wheeled vehicles, especially when access is a priority rather than speed or load capacity.
The company confirmed that the maximum speed of the Vendetta reaches 42 km/h, and the power reserve on a single battery is 21 km. The system uses quick-release lithium-ion modules with a central location, certified according to the UN38.3 standard.
Movement through the forest
The system was not originally conceived as a military tool, but its characteristics quickly attracted the attention of users working in conditions of increased danger or risk of detonation by mines. Its capabilities have aroused interest in cases where reduced ground pressure, the possibility of remote control, as well as low acoustic and thermal visibility can provide practical advantages when performing certain tasks.
The Ungoverned data package includes footprint images demonstrating that Vendetta leaves few footprints on sand, snow, and compacted surfaces. In one of the comparison images, an ASIC US-10 adult shoe print is circled in red next to shallow footprints left by the platform. The documented contact area of both footprints is 1058 cm2 versus 315.5 cm2 for a human foot. The results were recorded and measured according to Australian field standards in September 2025.
Comparing human and platform footprints
Users evaluating the platform are reportedly showing particular interest in applications that allow them to navigate unstable terrain or areas where there are hidden explosive objects. In particular, the movement of equipment in vulnerable areas or research access to areas where the use of heavier equipment is associated with increased risk.
It is emphasized that the company positions the platform not as a mine clearance system, but rather as a means of transportation designed to reduce risks and provide access opportunities in specific operational conditions.
According to the developer, the current application experience is limited to controlled field use, demonstrations, and early operational testing. Although there has been no official adoption, interest in this technology continues to grow among organizations facing mobility problems due to mine hazards or the need to patrol a limited area.
The company's technical materials identify several potential areas for further development, including individual track designs, wider units for working on snow, and multi-track cargo platforms capable of moving up to 200 kg. The technical notes indicate that the track width and tread pattern can be changed to achieve even lower pressure thresholds, depending on the operating conditions.
Ungoverned emphasized that the low acoustic and thermal visibility of its electric platform is a key advantage. The noise level of the Vendetta at a distance of 5 m is less than 60 dB, which makes it possible to move more quietly than on most small engines. It is claimed that the product is particularly useful for reconnaissance, humanitarian access, and patrols where noise is a limitation or where environmental regulations prohibit the use of equipment with internal combustion engines.
The mass of the self-propelled system is 30 kg, which also provides the possibility of quick use, including manual transport, transportation on small boats or, if necessary, by air using light UAVs.
It is reported that further modifications will be aimed at ensuring safety, access to the terrain and minimizing impacts on surfaces where conventional mobile platforms cannot operate without triggering sensors or damaging the terrain.
Source: Defense Blog
