Autonomous, Low Cost, Impact-Resistant, Inflatable ISO Container Transports

Transporting millions of pounds of combat equipment and supplies involves ship deployment, at-sea offloading and ship-to-shore transit as quickly and efficiently as possible. Logistics over the shore (LOTS) operations occur where there are no ports or deep water access, where ports have been destroyed or severely damaged, or where ports exist but do not have the equipment to transfer cargo. Current LOTS equipment offloads onto causeway systems used as floating platforms between ships and other watercraft, introducing extra, inefficient container "picks" to each movement. As an alternative to legacy LOTS technology, KaZaK is proposing design and demonstration of a simple, tough, lightweight system that automates movement of 20 and 40 foot ISO containers to and from shore without many of the intermediate steps now required. The envisioned autonomous system will include components that facilitate efficient loading and off-loading of containers directly into the sea, minimize ISO container "picks", limit seawater contact, reduce need for intermediate transport vessels, and rapidly reconfigure the ISO container for sea and land transit. KaZaK's macro-composite materials will play an important part in design of structural elements of the system. These low cost materials provide significant advantage for impact resistance, ease of repair and weight.