- DETROIT - Imagine a truck
that can detect an airborne bio-hazard and alert authorities before it
can cause harm or havoc. Or spot and track illegal trespassers or attackers
even in complete darkness -- and repel them should they try to disable
the truck,s advanced surveillance and communications capabilities. Or sense
an incoming missile and knock it out of the sky. A multi-million dollar
sci-fi fantasy? Uh-uh. Meet the Army,s new SMARTRUCK III, designed for
America,s homeland, a war zone or private security. Built in partnership
with International Truck and Engine Company, the lean, mean and clean machine
showcases the latest in armor protection, highly-advanced communications
and detection and deterrent capabilities, making the SMARTRUCK III a true
mobile command-and-control center. "It,s the right truck for right
now, Dennis J. Wend, Director of the National Automotive Center told editors
at the Society of Automotive Engineers, (SAE) 2004 World Congress. "Our
first focus is to bring forward this mobile unit for our soldiers here
and abroad, but at the same time we,ve designed a number of commercial
versions which can be easily modified to address homeland security or other
priorities. Specifically, Wend said some of the multiple applications would
include: "For the Air Force, it can be a command-and-control center
designed to monitor airfields and their vast surrounding areas. "For
the Border Patrol and U.S. Marshals, SMARTRUCK III will detect the movement
of personnel or vehicles in remote areas.
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- "For Homeland Security, it is configured to monitor
both bio threats and personnel movements. "For a war zone, it brings
state-of-the-art communications and detection systems while offering up-armored
protection to withstand terrorist and insurgent roadside attacks. "And
there are unlimited applications for commercial uses working with our International
Truck and Engine partners for business and industry. This platform does
it all! The SmarTruck III was built for the NAC, the Army,s official link
to developing collaborative technologies with commercial and academic partners,
by Integrated Concepts & Research Corporation (ICRC) of Madison Heights,
MI, and Heart International of Grand Blanc, MI. The SMARTRUCK III owes
its wide-appeal to its adaptable modular design and innovations in defense
and occupant protection, field intelligence, communications and vehicle
performance. Defense and Occupant Protection: In military operations, SMARTRUCK
III,s vehicle systems are capable of detecting and responding to personnel
movement, a bio-threat in the air or an incoming missile. The vehicle armor,
four-point safety belts, run flat tires and fire suppression systems enhance
crew protection. SMARTRUCK III is equipped with a weapons station module
featuring a remote controlled .50-caliber machine gun which rises from
the back of the vehicle and has sniper-detection directional sound capabilities.
SMARTRUCK III,s advanced perimeter defense capabilities are based on the
military,s F-CLAS system, named one of the Army Material Command,s Top
10 Greatest Innovations of 2002. The system supports vehicle survivability
from close-in threats like rocket-propelled grenades and antitank-guided
missiles with anti-missile missiles deployed from behind SMARTRUCK III,s
side flares. Also housed behind the side flares are smoke and tear gas
canister launchers. SMARTRUCK III is outfitted with Level III ballistic
protection (to withstand 7.62 x 51mm rounds) and can include armor flooring
designed to dissipate the energy from a ground explosion away from the
vehicle.
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- An Automatic Fire Suppression System (AFSS) can sense
an explosion or fire in the crew compartment and suppress it within milliseconds,
thereby preventing harm to the occupants and reducing fire damage to the
equipment. The vehicle diagnostics system will aid the crew in tracking
vehicle health and/or identifying and resolving maintenance issues. Field
Intelligence: The highly-sophisticated Surveillance Module houses two primary
camera systems: the periscope camera and the telemmersion system. The periscope
camera includes a night vision camera, visible light camera and laser range
finder in a self-contained pan-and-tilt. For high-resolution situation
awareness, the telemmersion system can raise eight feet above the truck
for capturing the 360-degree full-motion spherical scene at 100 million
pixels per second. This compact system includes directional sound monitoring
and contains a base unit which can hold up to four hours of recording.
The intelligence equipment includes a Bio-agent Acquisition System which
can acquire particulate samples from intake air, distinguish bio-aerosols
from dust and other non-biological material and capture samples for analysis.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV,s) can be controlled from the SMARTRUCK III,s
electronic interfaces. For example, ducted fan UAV, capable of vertical
takeoff and landing and high speed horizontal flight, could offer a low-cost
surveillance option. Depending on the mission requirements, UAV,s can carry
a variety of payloads including cameras or Nuclear, Biological and Chemical
(NBC) sensors for air quality sampling. Communications: SMARTRUCK III,s
communication technologies create an integrated, stand-alone Command-and-Control
Center. Each of the rear seat passengers will operate a 20 touch screen
(with a storable keyboard and mouse) to monitor the numerous SMARTRUCK
III technologies. They also each have two 7 LCD screens to view their selected
camera feeds. SMARTRUCK III incorporates high-speed satellite internet
access and satellite TV. The front and rear seat passengers will have removable
wireless tablet PCs which allow users to monitor vehicle operations and
control some of the peripheral devices from outside the vehicle.
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- Riding in captain,s chairs, the SMARTRUCK III,s four
person crew operates an array of ultra-high tech equipment: The Driver
is responsible for piloting the vehicle. From a pop-up LCD display, the
driver can view the forward-looking night vision camera which extends the
driver,s visible range. An inverted LCD mirror allows the driver to monitor
the rearward action. The Gunner operates the weapon station control unit,
including all weapon system camera feeds, weapon deployment, target acquisition
and firing. The Surveillance Operator and the Communications Operator,
through their numerous electronic interfaces, will monitor UHF, VHF, military
and/or police band radio traffic, track the highly-detailed GPS navigation
software, monitor the real-time vehicle diagnostics, control a UAV device
and payload, control and view the camera feeds, analyze NBC detection data
and engage the electric-shock door handles and other countermeasure controls.
Overall crew comfort is a high priority with the SMARTRUCK III. The on-board
systems have been organized for efficiency and stowed to maximize crew
space. The cabin is air conditioned and includes a center-cab full-reclining
sleeper seat. Telematics: Using the latest telematics systems, the SMARTRUCK
III and its commercial variations can be designed to maximize uptime for
the vehicle, increase fleet productivity and reduce operating cost in several
key areas. These include: systems management using GPS for location monitoring;
situational updates for tracking supplies; logistics control; full-time
vehicle diagnostics; prognostics of predictive failures; embedded training
for operators; and systems management for recording vehicle performance.
Vehicle Performance: The base vehicle for SMARTRUCK III is an International
V-6 powered Crew Cab, 4200 series medium-duty platform. Its exterior reflects
design elements of a military HMMWV and can accommodate existing shelter
modules. Fitted with an air suspension that allows adjustable ride height,
reduces storage space needed during air transportation and improves off-road
performance. By recovering a portion of the energy normally wasted as heat
by the vehicle brakes, the SMARTRUCK III also boasts a hydraulic launch
assist (HLA) that can provide a 25 35 percent improvement in fuel efficiency,
a 30 percent reduction in emissions while also providing high torque very
quickly, even at low speeds.. The massive 37/12.50R20 Michelin XZL tires
further SMARTRUCK III,s performance capabilities, offering exceptional
traction and handling on varied terrains including snow, sand, mud and
highway. Providing 8.5 kW of continuous power, the generator system serves
as the primary power source for all add-on vehicle technologies.
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- "We,re living in a new world, said Wend, "facing
new kinds of threats to soldiers and civilians alike. The SMARTRUCK III
is designed to take on that environment and win. The National Automotive
Center is the Army,s official link to working with commercial and academic
partners to create vehicles that will give the Army the mobility, survivability
and agility it needs to operate efficiently and effectively in today,s
new threat environment. For the military, the NAC,s partnership approach
makes it possible to improve vehicle performance, safety and endurance
while also reducing design, manufacturing, operations and maintenance costs.
For commercial partners, the application of jointly developed technologies
has similar impacts safer <http://www.theautochannel.com/N/F/news/2004/03/05/183699.html?{LF}&#>cars
and trucks, more advanced technology available to the consumer and lower
cost because of the broader market base. The National Automotive Center
is U.S. Army TARDEC,s technology transfer arm and part of the new Research,
Development and Engineering Command headquartered at Aberdeen, Maryland.
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- Ron Regehr,
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- Moab, UT
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