Autonomous vehicle technology firm Cognata has announced a major expansion of its AVBox autonomy product line, signaling a strong push into global off road and defense markets ahead of CES 2026. The move follows what the company describes as a breakthrough year, with rising demand for mission ready autonomy systems that can be rapidly deployed on existing vehicles.
The announcement was made from Tel Aviv as Cognata positions AVBox as a scalable solution for defense and industrial operators seeking reliable autonomy without redesigning entire vehicle platforms.
Growing demand for retrofit autonomy solutions
According to Cognata, AVBox has gained traction because it is designed as an all in one, retrofit ready autonomy system. Rather than requiring vehicles to be built from scratch, AVBox allows autonomy to be added to platforms that were never originally designed for it.
The compact and rugged system integrates sensing, onboard computing, and autonomy software into a single unit. This approach has proven especially attractive for operators managing large legacy fleets, where time, cost, and operational disruption are critical concerns.
Cognata says this design has enabled faster adoption across a wide range of use cases, from military logistics to industrial off road operations.
Focus on defense and off road platforms
AVBox has increasingly been adopted across defense and heavy duty off road sectors, where vehicles must operate in unpredictable terrain and harsh environments. Cognata reports growing use of the system on robotic carriers, armored vehicles, engineering machinery, and tactical support platforms.
The ability to upgrade existing vehicles without major structural changes has allowed organizations to scale autonomy across fleets rather than limit it to small pilot programs. This flexibility is becoming a key requirement as defense and security agencies look to modernize without long development cycles.
Three autonomy tiers tailored to mission needs
The expanded AVBox product family is offered in three distinct autonomy configurations, allowing operators to select the level of capability that best fits their mission profile.
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AVBox Scout delivers targeted autonomy and navigation support for controlled or semi structured environments
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AVBox Ranger enables continuous, around the clock autonomy in complex off road conditions
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AVBox Commander supports high capability autonomous missions with advanced perception and planning
Despite the different capability levels, all three variants share a unified architecture. This allows mixed fleets to operate under a common autonomy framework, simplifying training, maintenance, and upgrades.
Leadership highlights rapid deployment advantage
Commenting on the expansion, Danny Atsmon said the AVBox line was designed to help operators move quickly from concept to deployment.
He noted that defense and off road users increasingly need autonomy that is mission ready, reliable, and deployable at scale. By focusing on modular design and field proven performance, Cognata aims to shorten the gap between autonomy development and real world operations.
Positioning ahead of CES 2026
The expansion comes just ahead of CES 2026, where autonomy and robotics are expected to be major themes. Cognata’s timing suggests it intends to use the global technology showcase to highlight AVBox as a mature, deployable solution rather than an experimental concept.
Industry observers say this reflects a broader shift in the autonomy sector, with increasing emphasis on practical deployment, defense readiness, and return on investment rather than purely experimental innovation.
What this means for the autonomy market
Cognata’s push underscores growing convergence between civilian autonomy technology and defense applications. As geopolitical pressures and labor constraints increase, demand for off road and mission level autonomy is expected to rise.
By expanding AVBox now, Cognata is positioning itself as a supplier for organizations seeking proven autonomy systems that can be rolled out quickly across diverse vehicle types.
As CES 2026 approaches, the company’s progress will be closely watched by defense planners, industrial operators, and technology investors alike.
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