OSHKOSH, Wis. – Nov. 1, 2007 – Oshkosh Truck Corporation (NYSE:OSK) announced today that Team Oshkosh’s TerraMax(TM) unmanned ground vehicle has passed all qualification requirements to compete in the 2007 Urban Challenge Event to be held Nov. 3 in Victorville, Calif.
“Team Oshkosh and TerraMax have demonstrated that the technology we present is solid enough to take the company into the finals of the DARPA Urban Challenge,” said Robert G. Bohn, chairman and chief executive officer, Oshkosh Truck. “When Oshkosh Truck was announced as a finalist, it was noted that the TerraMax operated the safest of all robotic vehicles in Area A, one of the three qualifying courses. This proves how far we have come in pursuit of developing an unmanned vehicle for military applications and increasing solider safety.”
Team Oshkosh was one of 11 teams to successfully demonstrate advanced navigation and traffic skills required to compete in the race. It was initially expected that 20 teams would advance, but DARPA reduced that number due to safety expectations for the finals. In the qualifying events, TerraMax proved it could operate successfully in a parking lot, merge with moving traffic, maintain appropriate distances from moving traffic, and maneuver safely in a multi-vehicle environment at the National Qualification Event held on Oct. 26-31 at the former George Air Force Base.
As a finalist, TerraMax will compete in the Urban Challenge Event, a 60-mile simulated urban course also held on the base. Participants must safely complete the race within a six-hour time limit. DARPA will award $2 million, $1 million and $500,000 to the top three finishers of the Urban Challenge Event.
Oshkosh Truck has teamed with Teledyne Scientific Company, The University of Parma in Italy, Ibeo Automobile Sensor GmbH and Auburn University to help develop these capabilities. Caterpillar Inc. is a Team Oshkosh Gold sponsor. More information is available at www.terramax.com.
About TerraMax This year’s TerraMax unmanned ground vehicle is a 4×4 Medium Tactical Vehicle Replacement with rear steer. Dr. Tony Tether, DARPA director said, “The first autonomous vehicle to be fielded by the military most likely will resemble Oshkosh Truck’s TerraMax entry because the military is already using the basic truck it’s based on.”
The shortened wheelbase provides better handling and maneuverability for the city streets of the DARPA Urban Challenge. Despite its large size and ability to haul 5 tons off-road, TerraMax has a 21 ft. turning radius.
TerraMax’s unmanned ground vehicle kit does not interfere with the conventional operation of the vehicle. A robust sensor suite allows for 360-degree situational awareness around TerraMax. Elements of the autonomous navigation kit could be used to enhance driver awareness. The complete kit could be used in applications such as snow removal on airport runways.
About The Urban Challenge The Urban Challenge and two previous Grand Challenge Events were initiated after a Congress set a goal for 30 percent of operational ground combat vehicles should be unmanned by 2015. The Challenge’s intent is to reward advanced technologies and accelerate the development of unmanned vehicle technologies to be applied to military operations.
About Oshkosh Truck Corporation Oshkosh Truck Corporation is a leading designer, manufacturer and marketer of a broad range of specialty access equipment, commercial, fire and emergency and military vehicles and vehicle bodies. Oshkosh’s products are valued worldwide by rental companies, fire and emergency units, defense forces, municipal and airport support services, and concrete placement and refuse businesses where high quality, superior performance, rugged reliability and long-term value are paramount. For more information, log on to www.oshkoshtruckcorporation.com.
Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains statements that the company believes are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements other than statements of historical fact, including statements regarding the company’s future financial position, business strategy, targets, projected sales, costs, earnings, capital spending and debt levels, and plans and objectives of management for future operations, are forward-looking statements. When used in this press release, words such as “expects,” “intends,” “estimates,” “anticipates,” or “believes” and similar expressions are generally intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors, some of which are beyond the company’s control that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These factors include the cyclical nature of the company’s markets, the company’s ability to successfully integrate the JLG acquisition, the consequences of financial leverage associated with the JLG acquisition, risks related to reductions in government expenditures, the uncertainty of government contracts and the company’s ability to turnaround its Geesink Norba Group business. Additional information concerning these and other factors is contained in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
