The Future is on Tracks Maintaining capability overmatch into the future will require reliable advanced technologies. The military future concept of combining Robotic Combat Vehicles (RCV) with current Armoured Vehicles (AVs) will help forces achieve this, however Military Commanders will be forced to consider the limitations on future complex battlefields. One of the main considerations of Military Leaders and Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) is mobility and manoeuvrability. With this comes the question on which drive option is best suited to future vehicles.
Composite Rubber Track (CRT) & Combined Manned/Unmanned Vehicle Formations Both manned and unmanned AVs, by design, will incorporate a plethora of different sensors and electronics and by virtue of their combat roles carry Ordnance, Munitions and Explosives (OME). With these parameters in mind Soucy instructed NPrime, an industry leader in the effects of vibration, to conduct vibrational testing. Testing was carried out to ascertain the harshness of vibrations experienced on locations of the vehicle where munitions are stored. The test focuses on “track patter vibrations” illustrating the change in vibrations throughout different vehicle speeds. CRT overall provides a 40% reduction in mean vibrations contributing to less ammunition powder compaction which increases ammunition life duration by 70%, translating to significant cost savings. For AVs to operate effectively they’re constructed of many hundreds of Printed Circuit Boards (PCBs). The life of a Printed Circuit Board is influenced by the components applied such as capacitors, chips, resistors, LEDs and transistors. When considering component life, OEMs must consider the consequences of vibration on the system. Significant vibration reduction can be felt using CRT by: • • •
providing better absorption because of the Rubber enabling a smoother contact with the ground Structural components fully embedded in rubber construction
To keep tactical and operational advantages Acoustic signature reduction is hugely important when discussing survivability. AVs rely on the ability to remain undetected. Having the ability to move quietly, reducing the vehicle signature and confusing the threat library of ground sensors will increase survivability, aiding in decision time and space for Commanders. During testing Soucy’s CRT was shown to give an average acoustic signature reduction of 7.75 db(A) which equates to over 250% reduction in noise levels. Visual signature reduction is also important in terms of signature management and survivability. Manned or unmanned vehicles will inevitably throw up dust clouds, however the effect is greatly reduced with CRT integrated vehicles which have no end connectors in which to dig into the soil. The combination of reduced noise
and dust signature that CRT provides can aid in producing a truly lethal AV giving a competitive edge over most adversaries. In order to maintain the tactical advantage over near peer competitors, nations are increasing Research & Development (R&D) to facilitate the integration of RCV’s into multidomain operations. It’s therefore critical to demand the most compatible products. CRT meets the operational demands of future AVs and have a proven record on manned and unmanned systems. OEM’s will have many challenges in designing AVs of the future, but platform availability will underpin their ability to protect the force and maintain situational awareness. This will be greater enhanced by the integration of Composite Rubber Tracks.