A Charge Prediction Tool for HSU-based Suspension Systems

Impact Technologies and Georgia Institute of Technology, with the support of L-3 Communications, propose development of a prototype software tool that promises to significantly reduce the maintenance burden associated with EFV suspension system setup & calibration required for different mission mixes and/or in the event of HSU replacement. While the current procedure requires vehicle track removal and the use of jack stands to determine the proper amount of HSU gas charge, the proposed solution would quickly and accurately estimate required gas charge for a given mission mix and vehicle configuration (gross weight, CG, etc.) in the EFV's fully operational state. Given a concise set of user inputs, a constrained multi-objective optimization routine will solve a hybrid suspension model consisting of both a physics-based response surface model and a data-driven Neural Network. The aggregate of these two modeling approaches is designed to capture the complex interdependencies between suspension system parameters while still enabling efficient optimization of HSU gas charge settings. Using a Matlab/Simulink based development environment, USMC and L-3 provided data/software and in-house development tools, the Impact/GA Tech team will be able to develop requisite technologies and demonstrate the ability to generate a deployable charge prediction module. When this module is integrated with an intuitive Graphical User Interface (GUI) and other standard utilities on a maintenance laptop or the EFV's on-board computer, significant increases in EFV operational availability (Ao) will be attainable and remote, in-field, repair capability can be realized for the first time. Furthermore, the development team will design this software system with multi-platform applicability in mind such that recurring development costs for similar FCS vehicles can be minimized. BENEFITS: In the event that this program extends through Phase II development, it is highly anticipated that a validated and DO-178B Level C/D certified software for in-situ HSU charge prediction will yield reduced maintenance man hours (MMH) and increased operational availability (Ao) for the EFV and as well as for any future FCS/MEFFV platforms with similar suspension designs. Consequently, the return on investment (ROI) potential for this program is very high for the DoD. Impact Technologies has an excellent SBIR commercialization track record and as an engineering consulting and custom s/w development firm, is well suited to see the proposed system through to deployment and beyond.