An unmanned ground vehicle (UGV) with a heavy wheel-based design has advanced to the second phase of a Pentagon-led competition after clearing an initial technical evaluation.
The Dynamic Unmanned Expendable Light Vehicle (DUEL-V) from US startup Liminal Industries will be demonstrated to US military and government officials as part of the GroundBreaker 1 program.
Built around a compact four-wheeled flatbed, DUEL-V is designed as an adaptable platform capable of carrying a range of mission payloads.
Liminal has not disclosed the UGV’s official size, weight, or top speed, but said the vehicle features all-wheel drive and can operate in different orientations.
CEO Bradley Balzer originally envisioned DUEL-V as a ground-based counterpart to the first-person-view (FPV) drones that military forces now use extensively in combat.
The company is sending multiple DUEL-V units into the next stage of GroundBreaker 1, potentially allowing Liminal to demonstrate the vehicles operating as a coordinated group.
Engaging Directly With Military Personnel
Liminal’s development approach centers on field testing and direct operator feedback, allowing the company to refine the platform based on operational requirements.
That approach will continue under GroundBreaker, where government personnel and senior military officials are expected to engage directly with DUEL-V and assess its technical maturity.
Liminal is seeking an invitation to submit a full proposal for an Other Transaction Agreement award, which could bring the company into closer collaboration with the US military and support potential future deployment.
“Cost, manufacturing, and operator usability determine whether a ground system can become a widely deployed capability,” Balzer said. “GroundBreaker gives us an opportunity to demonstrate that approach and put DUEL-V in front of the people who will shape its deployment at scale.”
