Summary of "«Наша мета – повністю автономна місія»! | Амбітний план Tencore для українського НРК"
Summary of the video (Weapons podcast, special edition on NRK and Tencor / “Termite 2.0”)
The episode features Kateryna Suprudn interviewing Maksym Vasylchenko (co-founder/SEO of Tencor) about the company’s roadmap for “Termite 2.0”—a modular ground robotic platform for Ukrainian military needs—along with its international cooperation, integration with weapon turrets, and a strategic push toward greater autonomy.
1) What “Termite 2.0” changes (and why)
- Termite 2.0 is presented as a new generation built from feedback from users of the older Termite.
- The platform keeps modularity, so the military can configure it quickly for different tasks (e.g., logistics, combat roles, evacuation).
- The company claims that during wartime use it preserved what users liked and changed what didn’t, including performance scaling.
2) Domestic component localization and performance scaling
Tencor describes a major effort to replace/avoid dependence on foreign supply chains:
- Investment in Ukrainian development during the first state contract, aiming to gradually reduce reliance on China.
- Examples mentioned:
- “Chimera” digital communications to move away from China-based connectivity, with iterative deployment plans.
- Ukrainian rubber tracks, tested extensively and designed for near-unification across manufacturers (same profile/width, variable length).
- Battery/mobility improvements:
- Early configs: two batteries; ~22 km with payload.
- Later testing: four batteries; up to ~43 km with payload.
- Further tests: six batteries; reported ~74 km on the test track with full setup.
- Electric drive architecture:
- Increased motor power, plus development of Ukrainian electric motors intended to be more efficient than Chinese designs.
- Field tests are underway; once validated, Ukrainian motors are planned for not only Tencor products but wider use.
3) Electronics and autonomy concepts (AI module, loss of connection)
Tencor developed its own electronics approach to avoid Chinese flight controllers, using:
- Automotive-style connectors
- A modular architecture (on-board computer vs. nodes for managing modules)
They also collaborate with Okomera for installing a thermal camera in a basic state-contract configuration, with the goal of reducing/remove the need for visible-IR illumination.
AI module and staged autonomy
A key autonomy component is an AI module designed to:
- Guide the vehicle along a route even without GPS/communication, using perception/planning similar to cruise control behavior (e.g., “holds the track, drives, avoids obstacles”).
- Maintain mission continuity specifically during loss of connection events.
Target for the first autonomy iteration: travel roughly one kilometer autonomously after connection/GPS loss.
The autonomy roadmap is described as staged:
- Reduce operator fatigue (more “cruise-control”-like control and autopilot-style functions).
- Allow operator-chosen behavior in connection-loss scenarios (e.g., reach, hide).
- Move toward higher-level group behaviors, including “swarm” / distributed navigation knowledge-sharing.
They argue that full autonomy for military missions is very difficult (compared to what Tesla had to solve in civilian conditions), but not impossible.
4) Integration with weapon turrets and state-owned manufacturers
The discussion includes integration with Frontline, including Termite 2.0 paired with Frontline’s universal turret concept.
Planned workflow includes receiving components and weapon-related items (including grenade launcher integration via state industry) to fully codify and supply a complete complex:
- platform + turret + weapon + communication
They emphasize avoiding building everything from scratch and instead integrating the best Ukrainian solutions early to reduce time loss.
5) Working with the state: process, timelines, and pitfalls
Vasylchenko acknowledges earlier state-structure cooperation was:
- slow and expensive
- blocked by procurement logic (e.g., “too long and expensive,” and the state buying cheaper alternatives)
He claims conditions improved after leadership changes and renewed direction within Ukroboronprom.
“Triple verification” workflow
Quality/codification is described as:
- Internal factory checks
- Tests with partner training grounds/teams
- Military feedback and acceptance
Current delivery status (as described)
Termite 2.0 has already included:
- A batch provided to the military, with feedback collected.
- Codification work in January, followed by large-scale free-of-charge deliveries (described as more than 50 boards given away by April), plus additional free support for earlier Termite versions.
Contracting and prepayment are described as properly starting around the current month—so serial supply is still ramping.
6) Protection, speed limits, chassis behavior, and winter testing
- Armor strategy: modular booking primarily for anti-splinter protection, rather than direct-hit survivability against FPV/tank-grade threats (described as impractical/irrelevant for those threat classes).
- Reported performance:
- With armor: ~398 kg lift capacity
- Range: up to ~40 km+, depending on configuration
- Speed currently limited to about 15 km/h, potentially adjustable later for operational needs
- Chassis reliability issues were identified through winter/snow testing, leading to fixes (including problems with snow melt icing/traction).
7) Evacuation capsule and engineering modules
Evacuation capsule
A specialized evacuation capsule was reportedly requested by military headquarters six+ months earlier.
- Armored steel capsule, tested and delivered in small quantities (40 pieces stated)
- Detonation and hit-test protocols from an institute were referenced
- Additional coatings for improved survivability against thermal-camera effects (anti-thermal/heat-reflective)
The company frames evacuation as difficult because it must save human lives, but argues many evacuations can rely on modular drones + conversion capsules rather than purpose-built drones for every role.
Engineering modules mentioned
- Mine-laying module
- Yaguza/drop module
- Drone recovery/evacuation modules
- Additional queued requests such as remote trench/excavator bucket capability
8) Communication stack and remote control alternatives
Connectivity was described as a critical problem due to terrain and distance, but the company claims it now uses a standardized solution.
Mentioned components/options include:
- Sterling management (standardized approach)
- Starlink
- Ukrainian digital comms via Chimera
- Infantry remote control (emphasizing avoidance of Chinese remotes; Ukrainian-made remotes were announced)
- LTE
- Gateway tools enabling connection of other digital solutions
Infantry remotes are said to be gaining popularity, with testing underway for their own Ukrainian version.
9) Autonomy, politics/legal recognition, and VAT/industrial constraints
Beyond technology, the episode focuses heavily on ecosystem barriers:
- NRK/robotics is portrayed as often treated like a “Tesla” comparison, while Ukraine still lacks clear legal/official recognition for NRC as a distinct category.
- Concerns include:
- manufacturers needing grants/funding but being blocked by VAT and classification issues
- inconsistent VAT treatment (engineering products may be VAT-free, while logistics carriers/related parts need consistent regulation for robotic procurement)
- Plans are discussed to unify solutions and avoid a “zoo of connectors” / fragmented interfaces.
10) Horizontal cooperation and the role of associations/state competence centers
Vasylchenko argues Ukraine’s progress comes from horizontal collaboration:
- military + civilian businesses + training centers + state support rather than strict “vertical” bureaucracy.
He mentions the Ukrainian Association of Robotic Forces / Ukrainian Robotic Systems as a bridge to connect business with decision-makers and consolidate responses.
A government initiative is discussed: after meetings with Mikhail Fedorov, a center of competence for NRK implementation/study is to be created, with a dedicated person/team responsible for NRK.
The hope is that this will unify battlefield feedback, testing/R&D, and manufacturers into standard solutions instead of fragmented adoption.
11) International cooperation: Germany, Finland, France, cybersecurity
Multiple partnerships are described:
- Quantum Systems (Germany) via a joint venture framework
- Goal: joint production in Germany of certain drones (2,000 drones stated for the army)
- Linked to Termite 2.0’s next iteration and component replacement strategy
- Technology transfer described as procedural (not impossible), but slower than ideal
- Finland / Insta
- Focus: cybersecurity skills and AI-related competency
- Cybersecurity described as a major gap among Ukrainian manufacturers, emphasizing capture resistance/protection of data links
- France / Shark Robotics
- Material aid including fire robots / firefighting equipment
- Cooperation includes training and maintenance support in Ukraine
- Further joint ventures are hinted at beyond firefighting robots
12) Mission definition and goal
The company presents Termite’s overarching mission as:
- Preserve life: reduce dangerous human labor and let robots perform hazardous tasks under human supervision.
- Progress toward robots that build/produce robots (partially claimed as already underway).
Presenters / contributors
- Kateryna Suprudn — host / interviewer
- Maksym Vasylchenko — co-founder and SEO, Tencor (main interviewee)
Mentioned individuals/organizations (contributors referenced)
- Andriy Valeriyovych Lebedenko — HQ that set evacuation capsule requirements
- Herman Smitanin — Ukroboronprom leadership referenced
- Mikhail Fedorov — government official referenced regarding NRK competence center
- Taras Ostapchuk — discussed regarding protective net solutions
- Oleksiy (“Duchess”) — executive director of the Ukrainian Association of Robotic Forces
- Frontline — turret integration partner
- Ukrboronprom / Ukroboronprom — state-owned manufacturer referenced
- Chimera — Ukrainian communications provider referenced
- Okomera — thermal camera referenced
- Quantum Systems — Germany JV referenced
- Insta (Finland) — JV referenced
- Shark Robotics (France) — firefighting robots referenced
- Sterling / Starlink / LTE and other communications solutions referenced
Category
News and Commentary
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