High Capability Off-Road Active Suspension System

Under a successful Phase I project Balcones Technologies (BT), UTs Center for Electromechanics (UT-CEM), and the Texas Research Institute (TRI) developed an initial control approach and architecture for improving safety and vehicle extraction capabilities of future off road military vehicles, including MRAP and JLTV. This was accomplished by combining the benefits of CEMs active suspension, central tire inflation (CTIS), and TRIs variable vehicle cone index (VVCI) system through the use of a new Enhanced Safety Control (ESC) system to minimize the effects of road breakaway and to enable vehicle extraction from a variety of immobilization scenarios. Multiple simulations were run which indicated significantly improved performance. For the Phase II effort the team proposes to: complete development of the Enhanced Safety Control system; integrate it onto an existing HMMWV with active suspension; integrate TRIs VVCI and CTIS to improve soft soil mobility; and conduct testing at an independent test facility to demonstrate improved performance during road breakaway events and vehicle extraction scenarios. The results shown during testing will then be incorporated into future performance predictions for future JLTV and MRAP class vehicles. Following a successful demonstration, the team will work with our commercial partners to market the completed system.