I happened to be watching one of the military channels on TV last night, and there was this program on about future military vehicles. Unfortunately, I don't remember the name of the program, but it was fascinating. Folks, the military have some pretty impressive all-terrain vehicles in the works. I'm not just talking about the US military as they were showing some vehicles developed in Europe as well, maybe even Asia...
After watching this show I came away with several conclusions:
• Much as the WWII Jeep served as the fundamental engineering paradigm during the last half of the 20th century in terms of civilian truck and SUV design, some of these vehicles will do the same for the next century—and in many ways will be 180° away of what "Jeep-Think" was all about.
• One of these Anti-Jeep-Think items has to do with suspensions. Most of the vehicles I saw had very sophisticated and very rugged independent suspensions. There were some engineering approaches taken that I had never conceived of. For example there was one vehicle that had a suspension system that folded up so that it could fit inside a certain sized cargo carrying airplane. Unbelievable...
• I think the future of off-road civilian vehicles could be very exciting if any of these engineering approaches ever make their way out of the top-secret military laboratories. I'm tell ya, these guys are working on some pretty neat and exciting stuff...
⢠Lastly, military vehicles, unlike consumer-oriented vehicles, don't have to be held hostage to old ideas for fear that the public won't buy into something new and radial. I'm convinced the reason the Jeep paradigm has lasted as long as it has, is because of the fear of giving the public something really new, something it doesn't understand, and therefore it will be rejected. That's not an issue for the military. They outline the problem at hand and then start with a clean sheet of paper which results in some very innovative engineering solutions.
Here's a link with specs on the independently-suspended Stryker (see picture), which has been in service for some time now. Some of these vehicles the military is working on will make the Stryker look ancient.
• Much as the WWII Jeep served as the fundamental engineering paradigm during the last half of the 20th century in terms of civilian truck and SUV design, some of these vehicles will do the same for the next century—and in many ways will be 180° away of what "Jeep-Think" was all about.
• One of these Anti-Jeep-Think items has to do with suspensions. Most of the vehicles I saw had very sophisticated and very rugged independent suspensions. There were some engineering approaches taken that I had never conceived of. For example there was one vehicle that had a suspension system that folded up so that it could fit inside a certain sized cargo carrying airplane. Unbelievable...
• I think the future of off-road civilian vehicles could be very exciting if any of these engineering approaches ever make their way out of the top-secret military laboratories. I'm tell ya, these guys are working on some pretty neat and exciting stuff...
⢠Lastly, military vehicles, unlike consumer-oriented vehicles, don't have to be held hostage to old ideas for fear that the public won't buy into something new and radial. I'm convinced the reason the Jeep paradigm has lasted as long as it has, is because of the fear of giving the public something really new, something it doesn't understand, and therefore it will be rejected. That's not an issue for the military. They outline the problem at hand and then start with a clean sheet of paper which results in some very innovative engineering solutions.
Here's a link with specs on the independently-suspended Stryker (see picture), which has been in service for some time now. Some of these vehicles the military is working on will make the Stryker look ancient.
firstwagon says:
11:05 AM, 12/28/06
"Lastly, military vehicles, unlike consumer-oriented vehicles, don't have to be held hostage to old ideas for fear that the public won't buy into something new and radial. "
Don't forget, the miltary is also not held hostage to affordablilty concerns like the public. When you have the worlds biggest pool of taxpayers money to spend then you are free to experiment with fancy toys.
Rugged IFS systems cost big bucks to build and repair and their advantages off road are limited to a few situations.
rsholland says:
11:47 AM, 12/28/06
Military vehicles have to go anywhere and everywhere, and under extreme circumstances. It's all about winning battles, so they pick the best suspension for that task. It looks like most militaries now prefer independent suspensions.
As to cost: That same argument used to be applied to cars. Finding a new car today with solid axle(s) today is the exception, not the rule.
estreka says:
12:54 PM, 12/28/06
Right now the DoD is desperately looking for a replacement of the H1. Few vehicles can go offroad like an H1, but few vehicles break down as much as an H1 as well.
rsholland says:
01:13 PM, 12/28/06
The H1 is an old, OLD!, design. It's long overdue for being replaced.