From a Vehicle Perspective, Could the Army Lead the Nation in “Greening” the Country?

Recent media coverage regarding the automotive industry have focused on how future vehicles will better address fuel efficiency and environmental concerns. At the U.S. Army – the owner and operator of the world’s largest ground vehicle fleet – solutions for those problems are being developed right now, and, clearly, ground vehicles remain a critical Army power and energy research, development, test and evaluation focus for the immediate future.

To further that cause, the U.S. Army Tank Automotive Research, Development and Engineering Center’s (TARDEC’s) Director Dr. Grace M. Bochenek will discuss her team’s efforts toward reducing fuel consumption during the 2009 Association of the U.S. Army (AUSA) Annual Meeting and Exposition that runs Oct. 5-7 at the Washington Convention Center in Washington D.C. Dr. Bochenek will take part in a panel discussion titled “Energy and the Environment for an Expeditionary Army” in conference hall 150 B at 2 p.m. Oct. 6 (Tuesday).

Bochenek will be joined on the panel by:
· Jerry Hansen, SES
Lead Speaker
OASA (I&E)

· LTG Robert L. Van Antwerp, Jr.
Chief of Engineers/Commanding General
United States Army Corps of Engineers

· MG Howard B. Bromberg
Senior Commander
Fort Bliss

· BG Al T. Aycock
Deputy Commanding General
Installation Management Command

· Brian Lally
Director for Installation Energy
OSD
During the discussion, Bochenek will explain TARDEC’s “systems of systems” approach and how the cost of energy can be measured in many ways. For instance, she will explain how a 1 percent increase in miles per gallon translates into more than 6,000 fewer soldiers in convoys transporting fuel into the field. “It is all the better for our Soldiers if we can minimize or remove the need for fuel from the equation,” claims Bochenek.

In addition to the panel discussion, TARDEC will have a technology display as part of the Army Materiel Command exhibit featuring a model of TARDEC’s Autonomous Platform Demonstrator (APD). The APD tests hybrid-electric drive systems, advanced suspension systems and thermal management systems. It is capable of reaching speeds up to 50 miles per hour and is developing, integrating and testing next-generation unmanned ground vehicle mobility technologies. The APD is the Robotic Vehicle Control Architecture’s integration platform.
Join TARDEC at booth #1524 at AUSA for more information on the APD’s capabilities and all other TARDEC technologies.

ABOUT TARDEC
Headquartered at the Detroit Arsenal in Warren, MI, TARDEC is the Nation’s laboratory for advanced military automotive technology and serves as the Ground Systems Integrator for all Department of Defense (DOD) manned and unmanned ground vehicle systems. With roots dating back to the World War II era, TARDEC is a full life-cycle, systems engineering support provider-of-first-choice for all DOD ground combat and combat support weapons, equipment and vehicle systems. TARDEC develops and integrates the right technology solutions to improve Current Force effectiveness and provide superior capabilities for Future Force integration. TARDEC’s technical, scientific and engineering staff lead cutting-edge research and development in Ground Systems Survivability; Power and Mobility; Intelligent Ground Systems; Force Projection; and Vehicle Electronics and Architecture.