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Investigating the impact of Gasoline fuel on diesel engine performance and emission is very important for military heavy- duty combat vehicles. Gasoline has great potential as alternative fuel due to rapid depletion of petroleum reserves and stringent emission legislations, under multi fuel strategy program for military heavy- duty combat vehicle. There is a known torque, horsepower and fuel economy penalty associated with the operation of a diesel engine with Gasoline fuel. On the other hand, experimental studies have suggested that Gasoline fuel has the potential for lowering exhaust emissions, especially NOx, CO, CO2, HC and particulate matter as compared to diesel fuel. Recent emission legislations also restrict the total number of nano particles emitted in addition to particulate matter, which has adverse health impact.

This document defines the characteristics necessary to standardize the airborne recorder download file format in order to facilitate data import, transcription, and exchange. A standardized data format will reduce the variety of readout equipment required for airborne recorder data transcription. This document defines the detailed architecture of the Recorder Standard Output (RSO) file. The architecture is a tagged file structure within which many different files and their formats can be supported. The structure is necessary to support newer recording requirements for flight data, data link, audio, and image recording. This structure is intended for use with all civil recorders and should support use with military recorders.

Abstract Letter from the Guest Editors

Abstract The objective of this article is to evaluate the effects of different blast protective modules to military vehicle structures and occupants. The dynamic responses of the V-shape integral basic armor, the add-on honeycomb sandwich structure module, and the anti-shock seat-dummy system were simulated and analyzed. The improvements of occupant survivability by different protective modules were compared using occupant injury criteria. The integral armored cab can maintain the integrity of the cab body structure. The add-on honeycomb sandwich armor reduces the peak structural deformation and velocity of the cab floor by 34.9% and 47.4%, respectively, compared with the cab with integral armors only. The integral armored cab with the anti-shock seat or the honeycomb sandwich structures reduces the occupant shock responses below the injury criteria. For different blast threat intensities, the selection of appropriate protective modules can meet protection requirements.

Abstract Autonomy has the potential to make the most radical impact by significantly reducing the number of soldiers in harm’s way and changing the military paradigm. Benefits of autonomy to improve the Army’s mission capabilities and the rapid evolution of military systems exerts pressure to develop these systems quickly. Since the associated technological development is highly fast paced and stochastic, approaches that develop systems for stochastic future scenarios are required. In this article we present a vision for the autonomous high-mobility military systems for that future. We discuss the ramifications of autonomy in five areas: (1) fleet organization, (2) physical attributes of high-mobility military systems, (3) individual behaviors of autonomous assets, (4) interactions between humans and autonomous systems, and (5) operation and teaming strategies. We present the future vision, implications, requirements, and technological challenges for each of the five areas.

Abstract The advancement in vision sensors and embedded technology created the opportunity in autonomous vehicles to look ahead in the future to avoid potential obstacles and steep regions to reach the target location as soon as possible and yet maintain vehicle safety from rollover. The present work focuses on developing a nonlinear model predictive controller (NMPC) for a high-speed off-road autonomous vehicle, which avoids undesirable conditions including stationary obstacles, moving obstacles, and steep regions while maintaining the vehicle safety from rollover. The NMPC controller is developed using CasADi tools in the MATLAB environment. The CasADi tool provides a platform to formulate the NMPC problem using symbolic expressions, which is an easy and efficient way of solving the optimization problem. In the present work, the vehicle lateral dynamics are modeled using the Pacejka nonlinear tire model.

Abstract In this article, a formation flying technique designed for a multiple unmanned aerial vehicles (multi-UAV) system to provide low-cost and efficient solution for civilian and military applications is presented. First, a modular leader-follower formation algorithm was developed to accomplish the formation flying with off-the-shelf low-cost components and sensors. Second, a proportional-integral-derivative (PID) controller was utilized for velocity control of the UAVs to maintain the tight formation. Third, a particle swarm optimization-optimized reciprocal velocity obstacles (PSO-RVO) algorithm was utilized for obstacles avoidance and collision avoidance between the UAVs while navigating, with the aid of sonar ranging sensors onboard. The formation flying algorithm developed was tested through both simulation and experiment using two quadcopters with global positioning system (GPS) signals.

This document is divided into five parts. The first part deals with flotation analysis features and definitions to acquaint the engineer with elements common to the various methods and the meanings of the terms used. The second part identifies and describes current flotation analysis methods. Due to the close relationship between flotation analysis and runway design, methods for the latter are also included in this document. As runway design criteria are occasionally used for flotation evaluation, including some for runways built to now obsolete criteria, a listing of the majority of these criteria constitutes the third part. The fourth part of this document tabulates the most relevant documents, categorizing them for commercial and civil versus military usage, by military service to be satisfied, and by type of pavement. This document concludes with brief elaborations of some concepts for broadening the analyst’s understanding of the subject.

This glossary of tire military/industry terminology is a direct result of many months of planned and coordinated work by the SAE Military/Industry Tire Technology Nomenclature Task Force. This effort was put forth with the hope of leading the military and industry towards standardization of terminology. This glossary represents the latest state-of-the-art terms and definitions for military use. This SAE Recommended Practice shall remain open for comments from the reader and shall also be reviewed and updated periodically. Many similar terms and definitions were reviewed from which the ones best applied to military use were selected. It is the purpose of this task force to provide technical definitions in present day use. Please do not hesitate to inform the task force of any improvements which may be required.

Abstract Presently, 270 V direct current (DC) systems replace older 28 V DC voltage systems in both the civil and military aviation industry due to the requirement for more electrical power needs on board. Therefore, the existing avionics require retrofitting. The conversion from 270 V to 28 V appears to be quite promising for both old and new systems. This study aims to design an interleaved synchronous modular buck converter topology as a candidate for these requirements. Calculations for the converter design are conducted considering aviation standards. Switching with pulse-width modulation (PWM) is used to control the power converter. A double-loop feedback control system based on voltage and current feedback is designed. Therefore, the buck converter circuit with 1145 W power output is proposed, which supplies a 28 V and 41 A DC output from a 270 V DC input. The concept is verified using simulations and hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) experimental results.

This paper presents a Military Space Plane design concept. While the current military space plane activity is focused on rocket-powered concepts, the concept presented here is powered by a rocket-based combined cycle engine that uses both rocket and air-breathing engine cycles. The design concept is the reference SSTO design concept used in the NASA HRST ANSER study. The reference concept is a derivative of the NASA air-breathing Access to Space study SSTO design concept. The Access to Space air-breathing vehicle's combined cycle engine was replaced by the Aerojet rocket-based combined cycle engine. The orbital performance capability of the reference design concept is presented for 100 n mi., polar, and 225 n mi., 51 deg. orbits. The sensitivity of GTOW to payload and margin is also presented.

The objective of this study was to optimize the occupant restraint systems for a light tactical vehicle in frontal crashes. A combination of sled testing and computational modeling were performed to find the optimal seatbelt and airbag designs for protecting occupants represented by three size of ATDs and two military gear configurations. This study started with 20 sled frontal crash tests to setup the baseline performance of existing seatbelts, which have been presented previously; followed by parametric computational simulations to find the best combinations of seatbelt and airbag designs for different sizes of ATDs and military gear configurations involving both driver and passengers. Then 12 sled tests were conducted with the simulation-recommended restraint designs. The test results were further used to validate the models. Another series of computational simulations and 4 sled tests were performed to fine-tune the optimal restraint design solutions.

This SAE Aerospace Information Report (AIR) is prepared for stakeholders seeking information about the evolution, integration, and approval of SHM technologies for military aircraft systems. The report provides this information in the form of (a) two military organizations’ perspectives on requirements, and (b) general SHM challenges and industry perspectives. The report only provides information to generate awarness of prespectives for military aircraft and, hence, assists those who are involved in developing SHM systems understanding the broad range of regulations, requirements, and standards published by military organizations that are available in the public domain from the military organizations.

Tradespace analysis is used to define the characteristics of the solution space for a vehicle design problem enabling decision-makers (DMs) to evaluate the risk-benefit posture of a vehicle design program. The tradespace itself is defined by a set of functional objectives defined by vehicle simulations and evaluating the performance of individual design solutions that are modeled by a set of input variables. Of special interest are efficient design solutions because their perfomance is Pareto meaning that none of their functional objective values can be improved without decaying the value of another objective. The functional objectives are derived from a combination of simulations to determine vehicle performance metrics and direct calculations using vehicle characteristics. The vehicle characteristics represent vendor specifications of vehicle subsystems representing various technologies.

Mobile heavy article tilter and positioner (HATP) is special purpose vehicle designed to level, articulate and positioning of very heavy load within the accuracy of arc minutes and in a stipulated time in fully auto mode. HATP system uses sophisticated electronic controller system to carry out required task in auto mode. This electronic controller system comprises of various types of electronic hardware, software, sensors and actuators. As this system is dealing with heavy load, any failure in any of subsystem of HATP can result into catastrophe. Therefore active and passive safety measure at various levels must be incorporated into system which firstly prevents the failure and reduce the effect of failure. The safety system for HATP system has been divided in three major levels: 1. Access level safety 2. Operational safety 3. Preventive safety. All three levels of safety is incorporated at appropriate subsystem based on Risk Priority Number (RPN) and failure mode effect analysis.

We present an approach in which we use simulation to capture the two-way coupling between the dynamics of a vehicle and that of a fluid that sloshes in a tank attached to the vehicle. The simulation is carried out in and builds on support provided by two modules: Chrono::FSI (Fluid-Solid Interaction) and Chrono::Vehicle. The dynamics of the fluid phase is governed by the mass and momentum (Navier-Stokes) equations, which are discretized in space via a Lagrangian approach called Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics. The vehicle dynamics is the solution of a set of differential algebraic equations of motion. All equations are discretized in time via a half-implicit symplectic Euler method. This solution approach is general - it allows for fully three dimensional (3D) motion and nonlinear transients. We demonstrate the solution in conjunction with the simulation of a vehicle model that performs a constant radius turn and double lane change maneuver.

The “holy grail” for prognostics and health management (PHM) professionals in the aviation sector is to have integrated vehicle health management (IVHM) systems incorporated into standard aircraft maintenance policies. Such a change from current aerospace industry practices would lend credibility to this field by validating its claims of reducing repair and maintenance costs and, hence, the overall cost of ownership of the asset. Ultimately, more widespread use of advanced PHM techniques will have a positive impact on safety and, for some cases, might even allow aircraft designers to reduce the weight of components because the uncertainty associated with estimating their predicted useful life can be reduced. We will discuss how standard maintenance procedures are developed, who the various stakeholders are, and – based on this understanding - outline how new PHM systems can gain the required approval to be included in these standard practices.

Abstract Introduction: The use of less lethal impact munitions (LLIMs) by law enforcement has increased in frequency, especially following nationwide protests regarding police brutality and racial injustice in the summer of 2020. There are several reports of the projectiles causing severe injuries when they penetrate the skin including pulmonary contusions, bone fractures, liver lacerations, and, in some cases, death. The penetration threshold of skin in different body regions is due to differences in the underlying structure (varying degree of muscle, adipose tissue, and presence or absence of bone). Objective: The objective of this study was to further investigate what factors affected the likelihood of skin penetration in various body regions and to develop corresponding penetration risk curves.

As the complexity of systems expands with increasing emphasis for digital transformation, the aerospace industry is generating big data to meet customer requirements. The ability to that data to solve challenging problems is limited by many factors, including the capabilities of current classical computing systems. Impact of Quantum Computing in Aerospace discusses how quantum computing systems offer (possibly quadratic to exponentially) greater computational power over classical computers. The power of quantum computing is tremendous and has many potential impacts on the aerospace industry; however, there are also many unsettled topics surrounding the future of the technology. Click here to access the full SAE EDGETM Research Report portfolio.