Date: Jan 01, 2012 Source: ARMY SBIR Success Story (
click here to go to the source)
The Army's focus is on being faster, lighter and more agile and wheeled vehicles figure prominently in this vision. Compared to tracked vehicles, wheeled vehicles have many positive features, but they lack mobility in certain soil types and weather conditions. A solution that is being explored is to provide an optional band track system to be placed over the wheels when extra mobility is required, although the suspension system effects are reduced, causing cornering and stability problems and limiting the vehicles to slower speeds. GS Engineering developed computer algorithms to interface with vehicle simulation programs for coupling the U.S. Army Tank Automotive Research, wheel suspension, band track, and the supporting suspension Development and Engineering Center system.
This module allowed detailed design, analysis and optimization of a complete band track over wheels system. GS Engineering was awarded SBIR contracts to develop a Band Track over Wheels prototype for military vehicles to significantly enhance soft soil mobility. This effort led to additional development of Track-over-Tires prototypes for commercial customers. GS Engineering designed an innovative, robust track tensioning system, and, in conjunction with Camoplast, Inc., developed a prototype rubber track. GS Engineering installed the track and tensioning system, instrumented the test vehicle with multiple data acquisition transducers, and performed a series of successful off-road tests including mud, sand, and deep snow conditions.
GS Engineering recently completed a SBIR Phase III contract which successfully demonstrated a segmented version of the Band Track over Wheels system. This version demonstrated significant off-road mobility enhancement, including a successful field endurance test. The segmented band trackalso has the capability of rapid field installation and improved maintenance by allowing the replacement of individual segments instead of the entire track.
Technology Transition:
GS Engineering has received over $3.3M in commercialization investments as a subcontractor under Century 3-Plus LLC and AM General LLC. They have also received a $1.1M Phase III contract for a Track-Over-Wheel Program from the U.S. Army Tank-automotiveand Armaments Command (TACOM). This technology is directly applicable to the present Stryker Infantry Vehicle and the MarineCorps Light Armored Vehicle Program. Oshkosh Truck Corporation is also very interested in this technology as a complement to their in-hub electric motors concept.
