Search Results

Tracked vehicles offer many advantages off road in difficult terrain. A primary factor limiting their application, however, has been providing a capable steering system at reasonable cost. This problem has been solved in high speed military tracked vehicles where cost is not the dominant factor. Now a new tracked vehicle steering unit has been developed which provides the same performance as the most advanced military systems, but which is manufactured economically from standard automotive components. This can be matched with standard engines and transmissions to give vehicle performance which formerly could not be obtained at a commercially acceptable price.

Partnerships between government agencies are an intellectually attractive method of conducting scientific research; the goal is to establish mutually beneficial participant roles for technology exchange that ultimately pays-off in a stronger R&D program for each partner. Anticipated and current aerospace research budgetary pressures through the 90's provide additional impetus for Government research agencies to candidly assess their R&D for those simulation activities no longer unique enough to warrant “going it alone,” or for those elements where partnerships or teams can offset development costs. This paper describes a specific inter-agency system simulation activity that leverages the development cost of mutually beneficial R&D.