HMMWV Variable Mobility System Navy SBIR FY2012.1 Sol No.: Navy SBIR FY2012.1 Topic No.: N121-002 Topic Title: HMMWV Variable Mobility System Proposal No.: N121-002-0139 Firm: Physical Optics Corporation Applied Technologies Division 1845 W. 205th Street Torrance, California 90501-1510 Contact: Sergey Sandomirsky Phone: (310) 320-3088 Web Site: www.poc.com Abstract: To address the USMC need for a variable cone index (VCI) for the armored HMMWV platform, Physical Optics Corporation (POC) proposes to develop a new HMMWV Variable Mobility (VAM) system. It is based on automatic control of the pressure of each wheel on the soil surface in response to a vehicle-mounted soil strength sensor, providing real-time rated cone index (RCI) estimates characterizing the soil traversed under the right and left wheels. The innovative integration of POC's RCI sensors with an optimized state-of-the-art central tire inflation system (CTIS) for individual tire pressure control and the novel use of CTIS augmented by digital tire pressure gauges and automatic electronic control, will allow automatic, smart adjustment of the HMMWV VCI in response to nonuniform softness of traversed terrain. The armored HMMWV, assembled with the VAM system, will have a target VCI of 25 or less and the capability to change it to correspond to terrain conditions, directly addressing the PM Motor Transportation acquisition program requirements. In Phase I, POC will demonstrate the feasibility of the VAM system by developing an analytical model and lab prototype. In Phase II, POC plans to develop a field prototype and evaluate it on a government-furnished HMMWV. Benefits: One benefit will be more efficient use of the heavy armored HMMWV variant of the Extended Capacity Vehicle (ECV), characterized by higher gross vehicle weight (GVW), on the battlefield based on a new adjustable mobility capability. Potential commercial applications are defined by the need to rapidly and safely traverse multiple soil types, which exist in many industries, including agriculture, mining, oil exploration, and forestry. Additionally, commercial recreation endeavors such as off-road vehicle competitions and winter sports activities could benefit from a system that varies vehicle VCI. This means that the VAM technology can be commercially attractive to the automotive industry sectors producing off-road, sport, agricultural, and special forestry vehicles. Also, manufacturers of CTIS and adjustable suspensions could be interested in commercialization of VAM technology. Return