Technology Status and Development Trend of Modular Moving System

With the development of technology, modular independent suspension technology has been widely applied on high-movement off-road platforms in the developed world because of the characteristics of offline assembly and full-body lifting. At the same time, after the breakthrough of key techniques such as the stiffness spiral springs, the high dissipation of the shock absorbers, the lightweight of double-wishbone steering mechanism and the non-maintenance bearing, the ability to carry the off-road mobility and armor protection of the military vehicles have been significantly increased. In this case, the application of the modular independent suspension and its current state around the world was explained, that the development of this technology is of great significance to the off-road maneuvering of our military equipment was also represented in this paper.

The Basics of Developing an Alternative Concept for Commercial and Military Vehicle Operation (Random Strategy)

The efficiency of commercial automobiles and wheeled military vehicles mainly depends on the choice of maintenance (M) and current repair (CR) concept. In the paper the difficulties of adapting the (M) and (CR) planning strategies to the structural characteristics of modern transport facilities are pointed out. The advantages of using the (M) and (CR) random strategy for transport facilities based on the stochastic nature of failures and malfunctions are substantiated. Considering the failures and malfunctions as random values and identifying the patterns of their distribution based on γ percentage resources, it is proposed to develop a list of regulated maintenance and repair work, periodicity and labor intensity based on a random strategy, which will increase the efficiency of preserving the technical resource of the rolling stock throughout the entire life cycle of the vehicle.

A Comprehensive Review on Natural Fibers: Technological and Socio-Economical Aspects

Asian countries have abundant resources of natural fibers, but unfortunately, they have not been optimally utilized. The facts showed that from 2014 to 2020, there was a shortfall in meeting national demand of over USD 2.75 million per year. Therefore, in order to develop the utilization and improve the economic potential as well as the sustainability of natural fibers, a comprehensive review is required. The study aimed to demonstrate the availability, technological processing, and socio-economical aspects of natural fibers. Although many studies have been conducted on this material, it is necessary to revisit their potential from those perspectives to maximize their use. The renewability and biodegradability of natural fiber are part of the fascinating properties that lead to their prospective use in automotive, aerospace industries, structural and building constructions, bio packaging, textiles, biomedical applications, and military vehicles. To increase the range of applications, relevant technologies in conjunction with social approaches are very important. Hence, in the future, the utilization can be expanded in many fields by considering the basic characteristics and appropriate technologies of the natural fibers. Selecting the most prospective natural fiber for creating national products can be assisted by providing an integrated management system from a digitalized information on potential and related technological approaches. To make it happens, collaborations between stakeholders from the national R&D agency, the government as policy maker, and academic institutions to develop national bioproducts based on domestic innovation in order to move the circular economy forward are essential.

Flexibility “of” vs. “in” Systems: A Complementary Strategy for Designing Fleet-Based Systems for Uncertainty

Complex systems must sustain value over extended lifetimes, often in the face of significant uncertainty. Flexibility “in” systems has been shown to be highly valuable for Large Monolithic Systems (LMS). However, other research highlighted that the value of flexibility “in” is highly contingent on delays in implementation. These limitations become more important when applied to other classes of complex systems, including Fleet-Based Systems (FBS). To overcome these challenges, this paper introduces a complementary approach to flexible design, termed “Flexibility ‘of’” and applies it to a case study of a fleet of military vehicles (an FBS). Unlike LMS, FBS are composed of multiple identical units that collectively deliver value. While each unit is itself a complex system (e.g., a tank or aircraft), the collective nature of the operations provides additional paths to flexibility: in addition to implementing flexibility at the vehicle level, flexibility can be applied to the management of the fleet. Flexibility “of” involves procuring a mixed capability fleet upfront and then actively managing which subsets of that fleet are deployed to meet emerging needs. Our results demonstrate the potential value for an “of” strategy and provide guidance for when different flexibility strategies should be adopted alone or in combination.

Mobile Nuclear-Hydrogen Synergy in NATO Operations

An uninterrupted chain of energy supplies is the core of every activity, without exception for the operations of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. A robust and efficient energy supply is fundamental for the success of missions and a guarantee of soldier safety. However, organizing a battlefield energy supply chain is particularly challenging because the risks and threats are particularly high. Moreover, the energy supply chain is expected to be flexible according to mission needs and able to be moved quickly if necessary. In line with ongoing technological changes, the growing popularity of hydrogen is undeniable and has been noticed by NATO as well. Hydrogen is characterised by a much higher energy density per unit mass than other fuels, which means that hydrogen fuel can increase the range of military vehicles. Consequently, hydrogen could eliminate the need for risky refuelling stops during missions as well as the number of fatalities associated with fuel delivery in combat areas. Our research shows that a promising prospect lies in the mobile technologies based on hydrogen in combination with use of the nuclear microreactors. Nuclear microreactors are small enough to be easily transported to their destinations on heavy trucks. Depending on the design, nuclear microreactors can produce 1–20 MW of thermal energy that could be used directly as heat or converted to electric power or for non-electric applications such as hydrogen fuel production. The aim of the article is to identify a model of nuclear-hydrogen synergy for use in NATO operations. We identify opportunities and threats related to mobile energy generation with nuclear-hydrogen synergy in NATO operations. The research presented in this paper identifies the best method of producing hydrogen using a nuclear microreactor. A popular and environmentally “clean” solution is electrolysis due to the simplicity of the process. However, this is less efficient than chemical processes based on, for example, the sulphur-iodine cycle. The results of the research presented in this paper show which of the methods and which cycle is the most attractive for the production of hydrogen with the use of mini-reactors. The verification criteria include: the efficiency of the process, its complexity and the residues generated as a result of the process (waste)—all taking into account usage for military purposes.

Methodology for the analysis of geospatial and vehicle datasets in the R language

The challenge of autonomous off-road operations necessitates a robust understanding of the relationships between remotely sensed terrain data and vehicle performance. The implementation of statistical analyses on large geospatial datasets often requires the transition between multiple software packages that may not be open-source. The lack of a single, modular, and open-source analysis environment can reduce the speed and reliability of an analysis due to an increased number of processing steps. Here we present the capabilities of a workflow, developed in R, to perform a series of spatial and statistical analyses on vehicle and terrain datasets to quantify the relationship between sensor data and vehicle performance in winter conditions. We implemented the R-based workflow on datasets from a large, coordinated field campaign aimed at quantifying the response of military vehicles on snow-covered terrains. This script greatly reduces processing times of these datasets by combining the GIS, data-assimilation and statistical analyses steps into one efficient and modular interface.

Quasi-Static Research of ATV/UTV Non-Pneumatic Tires

The non-pneumatic tire (NPT) is a type of wheel whichdevelopment is related to the beginning of automotive development. The non-pneumatic tire (NPT) is a type of tire that does not contain compressed gases or fluid to provide directional control and traction. Nowadays, this type of wheel is more and more often used in special purpose vehicles, e.g., in military vehicles and working machines. The main feature of the non-pneumatic tire is a flexible support structure (including the part of the wheel between the tread and the rim). This paper presents the results of research aimed at determining the influence of the geometry of the NPT’s (intended for All-Terrain Vehicle - ATV / Utility Task Vehicle - UTV) load-bearing structure on its quasi-static directional characteristics. The experimental tests included the determination of the radial stiffness of research objects on a non-deformable flat surface and on a single obstacle, as well as the determination of the degree of deformation for the elastic structure and belt. The significant influence of the elastic structure’s shape and the elastomer, as the material forming the NPT, on its radial stiffness was revealed.

The Influence of English Ability and Educational Methods on the Military Vehicles Operationalization for Cadets in the Army and Military Academy at Cavalry Educational Center, Padalarang, Indonesia

English skills are needed in the military field which always faces dynamic conditions. This research was intended to determine the relationship between English ability and educational methods used by military cadets at the Pusat Pendidikan Kavaleri on their ability to operate military vehicles. The method used is a quantitative method with population were all Army Secapa cadets and the Indonesian Army Military Academy who were currently studying at the Cavalry Education Center (Pusdik Kav) in Padalarang, West Java Province, Indonesia. Data collection technique used was observational technique, which was to examine directly by using a questionnaire and interview. The result of this research is that there is a significant relationship between the English Ability and the Educational method on military vehicles operationalization. In other words, if the English Ability and the Educational method is increased, the military vehicles operationalization for the Indonesian Army will be greater. In addition, the findings of this research are useful for military cadets and institution itself.