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Tanks play a pivotal role in swiftly deploying firepower across dynamic battlefields. The core of tank mobility lies within their powertrains, driven by diesel engines or gas turbines. To better understand the benefits of each power system, this study uses geo-location data from the National Training Center to understand the power and energy requirements from a main battle tank over an 18-day rotation. This paper details the extraction, cleaning, and analysis of the geo-location data to produce a series of representative drive cycles for an NTC rotation. These drive-cycles serve as a basis for evaluating powertrain demands, chiefly focusing on fuel efficiency. Notably, findings reveal that substantial idling periods in tank operations contribute to diesel engines exhibiting notably lower fuel consumption compared to gas turbines. Nonetheless, gas turbines present several merits over diesel engines, notably an enhanced power-to-weight ratio and superior power delivery.
To many, a digital twin offers “functionality,” or the ability to virtually rerun events that have happened on the real system and the ability to simulate future performance. However, this requires models based on the physics of the system to be built into the digital twin, links to data from sensors on the real live system, and sophisticated algorithms incorporating artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML). All of this can be used for integrated vehicle health management (IVHM) decisions, such as determining future failure, root cause analysis, and optimized energy performance. All of these can be used to make decisions to optimize the operation of an aircraft—these may even extend into safety-based decisions.
This document defines a set of standard application layer interfaces called JAUS Mobility Services. JAUS Services provide the means for software entities in an unmanned system or system of unmanned systems to communicate and coordinate their activities. The Mobility Services represent the vehicle platform-independent capabilities commonly found across all domains and types of unmanned systems (referred to as UxVs). At present, over 15 services are defined in this document many of which were updated in this revision to support Unmanned Underwater Vehicles (UUVs).
Advancements in electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft have generated significant interest within and beyond the traditional aviation industry. One particularly promising application involves on-demand, rapid-response use cases to broaden first responders, police, and medical transport mission capabilities. With the dynamic and varying public service operations, eVTOL aircraft can offer potentially cost-effective aerial mobility components to the overall solution, including significant lifesaving benefits.
AIR5317 establishes the foundation for developing a successful APU health management capability for any commercial or military operator, flying fixed wing aircraft or rotorcraft. This AIR provides guidance for demonstrating business value through improved dispatch reliability, fewer service interruptions, and lower maintenance costs and for satisfying Extended Operations (ETOPS) availability and compliance requirements.