How DARPA is tackling long-term microelectronics challenges

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  November 30, 2020 | International, Land

  Textron Systems readies all-electric Ripsaw M5 UGV

  by Melanie Rovery Textron Systems has developed an all-electric version of the Ripsaw M5 unmanned ground vehicle (UGV). Delivery of the platform for experimentation and trials will take place in 2021. The Textron Systems-led team, selected by the US Army in January 2020, are to provide four Robotic Combat Vehicles – Medium (RCV-M) with the Ripsaw M5 offering. In addition to the baseline hybrid electric drive (HED) platform, the team will also be delivering an all-electric version called the Ripsaw M5-E. The US Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Armaments Center (CCDC, also known as DEVCOM) will receive an M5-E in a flat-deck configuration to support weapons integration testing. Deliveries will start in the second quarter of 2021. The Ripsaw M5 platform is designed and built by Textron Systems' subsidiary Howe and Howe Inc, drawing from the latter's experience in UGV and specialty vehicle development. Despite Howe and Howe's knowledge, there are common issues associated with HED and electric drive (ED) development. One concern is ensuring there is sufficient battery capacity to power the electric motors. A Textron spokesperson told Janes that the company's experience “has allowed us to continually refine our [ED] systems and incorporate these lessons learned into the M5-E, which is designed to provide an all-electric test bed for our customer”. Future challenges for the HED/ED include electric efficiency and charge rates. Textron believes this will be mitigated by improved technology. “Our current solution leverages increased fuel efficiency and is enabled by agile logistics, ensuring adequate fuel is available,” the spokesperson explained. https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/textron-systems-readies-all-electric-ripsaw-m5-ugv

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  September 7, 2022 | International, Aerospace

  Army’s testbed ISR business jets are opening doors to new mission possibilities

  With the prototypes, "we're able to launch from one area and very quickly get to another area that is much further away in distance. So it opens up the aperture from a mission perspective," a program leader said.

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  October 2, 2020 | International, Land, C4ISR

  US Army wants help with radios that integrate with augmented reality

  Andrew Eversden ASHINGTON — The U.S. Army wants to know if there are additional radio vendors that can compete on an integration effort involving the service's Integrated Visual Augmentation System, or IVAS. According to a request for information posted last week, the Army's Program Executive Office Command, Control, Communications-Tactical is seeking single-channel data radios that can “support and integrate” with IVAS. The IVAS program, led by the Soldier Lethality Cross-Functional Team, provides soldiers with artificial intelligence-enhanced goggles that assist with navigation, targeting, and advanced night and thermal vision. The current vendors are Silvus and Domo Tactical Communications. The RFI states that the Army will need about 100,000 radios, with procurement starting in the first quarter of fiscal 2022 and delivered to soldiers beginning in June 2022. Paul Mehney, communications director for PEO C3T, said there will be multiple awards. “We believe that the technology has matured in the commercial space and we believe that there's additional vendors that can compete. We've also, through the soldier touchpoints, learned about how these radios are going to be potentially used and in what configuration they'll be used,” Mehney told C4ISRNET. “Initially these radios were intended only to be at the squad level to form a squad network. Now we believe that we can bring that up to the platoon level because the waveforms and the radios themselves have matured in the commercial sector to allow us to bring more nodes into the network, and we may even take a look at bringing them up to the company level as well.” The single-channel data radios, working with IVAS, will provide a small form-factor solution to transport Tactical Assault Kit data between dismounted soldiers to increase situational awareness. Responses are due Oct. 7. https://www.c4isrnet.com/battlefield-tech/it-networks/2020/10/01/us-army-seeks-market-research-for-radios-to-integrate-with-augmented-reality/