The Sherp all-terrain vehicle is a game-changer for delivering aid

The German Aerospace Centre, or Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt (DLR), has been collaborating with the WFP for nearly 20 years to harness space technology for humanitarian missions, but this is its most ambitious project yet.

“Since the start of our collaboration in 2019, we have worked intensively on the topics of fleet management and autonomous vehicles, drones, geoinformation, preventing and forecasting hunger,” says DLR CEO, Professor Kaysser-Pyzalla. “The focus has always been on the mutual transfer of knowledge and technology.

“One of the highlights of the collaboration is the AHEAD project. This initiative involves the further development of a vehicle that can be remotely controlled and uses spaceborne and airborne Earth observation technologies to deliver humanitarian aid to areas in need.”

An amphibious, all-terrain powerhouse upgraded with DLR’s space-honed tech developed by its Institute of Robotics and Mechatronics, the modified SHERP is no ordinary ATV. Capable of traversing water, swamps, and obstacles up to a metre high, it uses real-time sensors and remote-control systems inspired by space exploration. 

The standard Sherp was designed to conquer some of the most challenging environments on Earth. Developed by Quadro International, a Ukrainian company headquartered in Kyiv, it’s renowned for its exceptional off-road capabilities, making it a go-to choice for geologists, oil workers, rescuers, and extreme adventurers who need to navigate harsh terrains. It can even transition from water onto ice—a rare feat for wheeled vehicles. 

Standout features include a patented compressor-less tyre inflation system, which uses exhaust gases to adjust tyre pressure on the fly. This allows the driver to adapt to varying terrains and payloads quickly, enhancing traction and flotation. Made from galvanized steel and aluminium, it can operate in extreme temperatures from -40°C to +45°C (-40°F to 113°F). Diesel-powered, its incredible fuel efficiency allows for up to 65 hours of autonomous operation or 19 hours non-stop – albeit at top speeds of 40kmh (25 mph) on land, and about 6kmh (3.7 mph) in water.

Armin Wedler, DLR Project Manager for AHEAD, explains: “Our project outline describes a concept for using robotic, remote-controlled vehicles in this very impassable environment of South Sudan that will allow the completion of the last, most dangerous part of the route by telepresence from a safe place."

It’s akin to a lunar rover redeployed for Earth’s toughest terrains, like South Sudan’s flood-ravaged regions. DLR’s space pedigree hones the vehicle’s precision and autonomy on missions in countries like Mozambique and Kenya, where Sherps bearing DLR’s technological imprint are revolutionising humanitarian aid delivery.

With hunger surging due to conflict, climate change, and natural disasters, DLR’s space tech offers a lifeline. Traditional aid convoys face escalating threats – armed attacks, disease outbreaks, and wrecked infrastructure – putting drivers at risk.

Kyriacos Koupparis, head of Frontier Innovations for the WFP Innovation Accelerator, states: “Many operations take place in high-risk environments, such as in regions of civil unrest, civil wars and/or in fragile states experiencing conflict. Despite treaties banning the use of landmines, and despite ongoing demining initiatives, fatal incidents involving mines or improvised explosive devices are, unfortunately, ubiquitous for the drivers of our relief convoys."

AHEAD changes the game. Operated remotely from secure locations, it delivers food and supplies to inaccessible areas, cutting risks and costs compared to airdrops. Stephen Cahill, WFP’s Director of Logistics, emphasises: “To achieve Zero Hunger, the U.N. World Food Programme must be able to get to those beneficiaries who are hardest to reach, either due to natural barriers or, as we see more and more frequently, due to man-made causes such as conflict.”

It’s all part of DLR’s ‘Humanitarian Technologies’ initiative, adapting space research for Earthly crises. This includes using AI to forecast food security trends 60 days ahead. As DLR and WFP advance space-derived solutions, they’re not just delivering vital aid – they’re proving space technology that can address Earth’s gravest challenges. Keep an eye on this one.

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Images courtesy of WFP/DLR.