Tracked Utility Cargo (TRUC) - Austere Cargo Handling Vehicle

In fall of 2022 Bluejireh was invited to advise and help evaluate a Senior Design Project as a part of an Auburn University project that sponsored by the Air Forceĺs Air University Innovation Accelerator (AUiX). As a result of that program and subsequent discussion, a request was made to Bluejireh to revisit and evaluate the unloader concept. The initial Auburn design had several limitations. It was through this follow-up discussions that the conceptualization for the Tracked Utility ľ Cargo (TRUC) vehicle occurred. Due to personnel changes the initial discussions between AUiX and Bluejireh tapered off. Bluejireh, realizing the value of the design, undertook the effort to mature the concept. The initial concept called for a platform to unload cargo aircraftáand then small casters attached to the containers and pushed by AF personnel to the cargoĺs final location. Understanding the short coming of this issue is what prompted the TRUC conceptĺs initial specifications. áIt was decided that a minimum of 10,000 pounds of lifting capacity was required to fully accommodate an ISU-90 at maximum allowable loading. The concept also calls for the ability to load C-130 and C-17áfrom co-planar position and then transport the cargo away from the aircraft any required distance. Once at the staging area, TRUC will then offload the cargo into the staging area without any additional required equipment. In order to facilitate the handling of cargo, as well as provide maximum flexibility, TRUC utilizes a multi-fuel hybrid diesel-electric powertrain. This selection realizes an opportunity to reduce noise signature during battery only operation, and minimize logistic footprint. It also allows the flexibility to use TRUC as a power source when not in use as a cargo hauler. By utilizing a palletized ground support equipment system, the TRUC can also serve as a ground power unit to aircraft on the ground. While this capability is in early concept stages, it is anticipated that the ability to reduce an idled aircraftĺs ground noise signature would warrant further development of that capability. TRUC has also been designed with modularity in mind to allow future capability developments that would allow such capabilities such as dirt moving and munitions handling off the current vehicle chassis. The current design state is what would be expected after a Phase 1 effort. The design requirements as stated in Section 2 of the Technical Volume is well understood. The initial design has had several verification analyses conducted on the design to ensure the choices made were reasonable and adequate. By utilizing mostlyáCOTS hardware, the design is able to have a moderate level of technical readiness at this stage of development. The current design is ready to be finalized to begin the production of a prototype vehicle for testing and evaluation. This process will be conducted using Industry 4.0 methods to reduce risk to the end user and ensure all design requirements are fully met.