HMMWV Variable Mobility System

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.