thedrifter
12-20-03, 03:35 PM
Corps unveils hybrid tactical vehicle
Submitted by: MCB Quantico
Story Identification Number: 200312199133
Story by Lance Cpl. J. Agg
MARINE CORPS BASE QUANTICO, Va.(Training/Protocal) -- The Office of Naval Research in partnership with Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency and General Dynamics Land Systems, successfully demonstrated what could become the Marine Corps' first hybrid-electric tactical vehicle at Quantico's Transportation Demonstration Range Severe Off-Road Track Dec. 11.
The Reconnaissance, Surveillance and Targeting Vehicle is a high mobility, electric drive technology demonstrator that incorporates a lightweight diesel engine coupled to a permanent-magnetic generator which drives four in-hub permanent-magnet electric wheel motors. The RST-V is perfectly suited as a reconnaissance vehicle, as its lithium-ion battery pack enables silent movement for upwards of 20 miles with extremely low thermal and acoustic signatures.
Dr. Arthur Morrish, DARPA Tactical Technology Office director and RST-V program manager, called the RST-V program an excellent example of ongoing cooperative efforts between DARPA and ONR that could potentially provide the Marine Corps with significant transformational capabilities.
Jeffrey Bradel, ONR Maneuver manager, said the RST-V started with concepts studies in 1997, followed by preliminary and detailed designs through 1999. During the last few years, four vehicles were fabricated and subjected to performance testing and operational user evaluations.
"[The RST-V] offers a tremendous amount of enhanced capabilities to the warfighter," said Bradel.
"This is a technology demonstrator... the purpose of today's event is to show the Marine Corps leadership the potential benefits that these advanced technologies provide on the battlefield. We have achieved our goal of designing and fabricating the platforms and collecting performance and operational data. We are nearing the end of this phase of the effort and need to decide the future of the program."
Prior to the RST-V's most recent demonstration aboard Quantico, the new hybrid-electric vehicle underwent exhaustive testing and experimentation including more than 7,000 miles of field-testing and numerous demonstrations including two 1,000 mile endurance runs.
In September, the Marine Corps Warfighting Laboratory organized a two-week joint service Limited Objective Experiment for the RST-V at the Army's Yuma Proving Grounds in Yuma, Ariz. The vehicle successfully completed cargo loading, silent operation, live firing and severe off road exercises.
Additionally, the RST-V shattered the speed record for the Army's Rock Ledge Course at Yuma with a time of 13 minutes and 50 seconds. The previous record was over 32 minutes.
General Dynamics' Tom Trzaska said RST-V developers were afforded considerable latitude, allowing for new technologies to be applied to the project, and as an end result, produced a ground-breaking tactical vehicle.
"Rarely can you start with a clean sheet of paper. We had very few constraints with this project," said Trzaska.
Trzaska did identify three project parameters: Producing a vehicle with superior performance in all aspects, capable of fitting inside the MV-22 Osprey and showing significant gains in performance over the Humvee.
"In most cases we matched or exceeded the Humvee's capabilities," said Trzaska, citing improved mobility, recon ability, and providing a better platform for employing a machine gun such as the M2 .50 Cal Browning.
The RST-V also has an edge over the Humvee in fuel economy. The average fuel usage for a deployed Humvee conducting an extended reconnaissance mission is 1,040 pounds per month, but only 440 pounds for the RST-V.
"The RST-V reduces the foot print you have to take to the field through increased fuel economy," said Trzaska.
Capt. Steve Philipp, Marine Corps Warfighting Laboratory project officer, worked closely with the ONR/ DARPA development team during the RST-V's testing at Yuma, and said compatibility with the MV-22 Osprey could allow the hybrid-electric to play a role in the future of the Corps.
"At the end of the day, we're getting inside the V-22. Whether it's the RSTV or something else, make no mistake, we're getting inside," said Philipp.
http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/image1.nsf/Lookup/200312199610/$file/RSTV6_lowres.jpg
The Reconnaissance, Surveillance and Targeting Vehicle's suspension is put to the test on the railroad ties at Quantico's Transportation Demonstration Range Severe Off-Road Track on Dec. 11. Photo by: Lance Cpl. J. Agg
http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/mcn2000.nsf/main5/BD61E86ACCAA4B3F85256E01004D0C12?opendocument
Sempers,
Roger
:marine:
Submitted by: MCB Quantico
Story Identification Number: 200312199133
Story by Lance Cpl. J. Agg
MARINE CORPS BASE QUANTICO, Va.(Training/Protocal) -- The Office of Naval Research in partnership with Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency and General Dynamics Land Systems, successfully demonstrated what could become the Marine Corps' first hybrid-electric tactical vehicle at Quantico's Transportation Demonstration Range Severe Off-Road Track Dec. 11.
The Reconnaissance, Surveillance and Targeting Vehicle is a high mobility, electric drive technology demonstrator that incorporates a lightweight diesel engine coupled to a permanent-magnetic generator which drives four in-hub permanent-magnet electric wheel motors. The RST-V is perfectly suited as a reconnaissance vehicle, as its lithium-ion battery pack enables silent movement for upwards of 20 miles with extremely low thermal and acoustic signatures.
Dr. Arthur Morrish, DARPA Tactical Technology Office director and RST-V program manager, called the RST-V program an excellent example of ongoing cooperative efforts between DARPA and ONR that could potentially provide the Marine Corps with significant transformational capabilities.
Jeffrey Bradel, ONR Maneuver manager, said the RST-V started with concepts studies in 1997, followed by preliminary and detailed designs through 1999. During the last few years, four vehicles were fabricated and subjected to performance testing and operational user evaluations.
"[The RST-V] offers a tremendous amount of enhanced capabilities to the warfighter," said Bradel.
"This is a technology demonstrator... the purpose of today's event is to show the Marine Corps leadership the potential benefits that these advanced technologies provide on the battlefield. We have achieved our goal of designing and fabricating the platforms and collecting performance and operational data. We are nearing the end of this phase of the effort and need to decide the future of the program."
Prior to the RST-V's most recent demonstration aboard Quantico, the new hybrid-electric vehicle underwent exhaustive testing and experimentation including more than 7,000 miles of field-testing and numerous demonstrations including two 1,000 mile endurance runs.
In September, the Marine Corps Warfighting Laboratory organized a two-week joint service Limited Objective Experiment for the RST-V at the Army's Yuma Proving Grounds in Yuma, Ariz. The vehicle successfully completed cargo loading, silent operation, live firing and severe off road exercises.
Additionally, the RST-V shattered the speed record for the Army's Rock Ledge Course at Yuma with a time of 13 minutes and 50 seconds. The previous record was over 32 minutes.
General Dynamics' Tom Trzaska said RST-V developers were afforded considerable latitude, allowing for new technologies to be applied to the project, and as an end result, produced a ground-breaking tactical vehicle.
"Rarely can you start with a clean sheet of paper. We had very few constraints with this project," said Trzaska.
Trzaska did identify three project parameters: Producing a vehicle with superior performance in all aspects, capable of fitting inside the MV-22 Osprey and showing significant gains in performance over the Humvee.
"In most cases we matched or exceeded the Humvee's capabilities," said Trzaska, citing improved mobility, recon ability, and providing a better platform for employing a machine gun such as the M2 .50 Cal Browning.
The RST-V also has an edge over the Humvee in fuel economy. The average fuel usage for a deployed Humvee conducting an extended reconnaissance mission is 1,040 pounds per month, but only 440 pounds for the RST-V.
"The RST-V reduces the foot print you have to take to the field through increased fuel economy," said Trzaska.
Capt. Steve Philipp, Marine Corps Warfighting Laboratory project officer, worked closely with the ONR/ DARPA development team during the RST-V's testing at Yuma, and said compatibility with the MV-22 Osprey could allow the hybrid-electric to play a role in the future of the Corps.
"At the end of the day, we're getting inside the V-22. Whether it's the RSTV or something else, make no mistake, we're getting inside," said Philipp.
http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/image1.nsf/Lookup/200312199610/$file/RSTV6_lowres.jpg
The Reconnaissance, Surveillance and Targeting Vehicle's suspension is put to the test on the railroad ties at Quantico's Transportation Demonstration Range Severe Off-Road Track on Dec. 11. Photo by: Lance Cpl. J. Agg
http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/mcn2000.nsf/main5/BD61E86ACCAA4B3F85256E01004D0C12?opendocument
Sempers,
Roger
:marine: