Development of enhanced active damping system for the Marine Corps Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle (EFV)

A road wheel suspension incorporating a semi-active damper and fast load leveling spring system will be developed for the Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle (EFV). The system will be designed as a replacement for the currently fielded semi-active suspension system in the same foot print, either in early production units or as a retrofit package for incorporation later in the development cycle. A suspended seat will also be evaluated to mitigate shock and vibration transmitted into the EFV crew during both land and sea operations. In Phase I, a conceptual design of all the major components for the roadwheel suspension as well as the architecture for both control hardware and software will be developed. Dynamic modeling will be used to predict system benefits and provide requirements to the design process. The improved suspension will target equivalent functionality with greatly improved shock, vibration mitigation and improved dynamic stability. The Phase I Option will be focused on generating a detailed layout of the roadwheel suspension based on the component specifications and packaging constraints identified in Phase I. This will provide the basis for the detailed design and fabrication of a prototype system capable of withstanding extended proof of concept testing in Phase II.