Agility, resilience, and self-sufficiency are primary for army forces working within the area and engaged in warfighting removed from their everlasting bases. However working in these circumstances poses vital challenges with ever-growing power consumption, growing weight, and dependence on complicated methods that require skilled operators and logistical tail for provide and help.
A brand new platform developed by Plasan could present an answer for a few of these wants. At Eurosatory 2022 Plasan showcases the All-Terrain Electrical Mission Module (ATeMM), which offers an array of companies to reinforce the autonomy of tactical items, significantly in load carrying, electrical provide, and robotics operations. In reality, ATeMM is positioned to supply a mobility and autonomy ‘multitool’ that turns out to be useful in quite a few use instances.
Though it appears to be like like a trailer, ATeMM represents a brand new class in mobility – completely different from something we’re aware of at present. To know its potential, let’s look inside. The system combines a load-carrying flatbed, an automotive system, and {an electrical} power storage pack. The automotive system makes use of a single axle, two wheels with impartial suspensions, brakes, a differential, and electro-hydraulic steering. The axle is coupled to a 190 HP electrical motor/generator. The system can transfer the wheels or generate electrical energy in movement, to cost the battery that shops 35kWh {of electrical} power. All methods are operated mechanically and managed by an working system on board.
In contrast to different trailers, when ATeMM is linked to a typical 2×4 or 4×4 automobile, it turns that automobile right into a hybrid-electric 6×6. When two ATeMMs are coupled collectively, they flip that automobile into an 8×8. Two, three, or 4 ATeMMs can even function autonomously as Unmanned Floor Automobiles (UGV). That is solely a part of the flexibility the ATeMM is able to.
Energy Max – Changing a 4×4 to six×6
Customers can choose three working modes. Within the financial system mode, ATeMM conserves power by regenerative movement, with electrical energy generated and saved when the automobile decelerates, as in different hybrid electrical autos, when the driving force press the accelerator pedal, ATeMM provides electrical energy to help the automobile. In cost mode, ATeMM is charged by the automobile movement. Whereas gasoline consumption grows, the effectivity of generated electrical energy is far greater than on-board turbines.
The third Energy Max mode delivers most energy to spice up the momentum of the host automobile, because the trailer pushes the automobile. This mode permits a typical 4×4 to realize a lot improved offroad mobility and impediment crossing. This functionality additionally permits autos to realize stealth by eliminating engine noise and sustaining a silent watch for a lot of hours with out draining the automobile’s battery.
The patented twist-lock three-point quick connector system permits the trailer to turn out to be an integral a part of the automobile, permitting the driving force full maneuverability in ahead or reverse tight turns, and high-speed steering. The 1,950 mm broad trailer is air-transportable in helicopters and tactical transport plane, its top will be adjusted to adapt to completely different autos. Plasan additionally considers a smaller 1,650 mm broad model to match All-Terrain Automobiles (ATV) that can be air-transportable within the V-22 tilt-rotor plane.
An abundance of Vitality
The army wants giant quantities of power to maintain forces within the area. Communications, shows, computer systems, electro-optics, digital warfare, missile launchers, drones, and different digital gadgets require a relentless circulate of electrical energy within the type of gasoline, generator units, or batteries, to be pushed to deployed items. To maintain their momentum, they want numerous power in a type that’s readily usable for battery charging or powering different methods.
ATeMM is provided with a number of choices to generate and offers electrical power. When in movement, it regenerates as much as 26 kW of electrical energy. ATeMM regenerates as much as 60 % of the power consumed by the automobile throughout touring, energies that had been principally dissipated as warmth and different types of power loses. When towed behind a bunch automobile it generates 15 kW when braking and thru coast regeneration). With this regenerative braking and coast regeneration, the ATeMM arrives at its vacation spot totally charged, regardless of powering gadgets whereas in transport. It additionally has versatile output choices supporting 24VDC, 110/220 AC, and so forth. To retailer the power on board ATeMM makes use of lithium LiFePo T6 batteries providing commonplace effectivity at a excessive stage of security, for max storage capability a brand new lithium-ion system is used, the place every phase is immersed in liquid to forestall battery runoff in case of battery injury. Using a wise power administration system managing the onboard battery financial institution, and regenerative power produced when the automobile is in movement, ATeMM offers the consumer with an environment friendly Off-Board energy supply. For instance, this power provide exceeds the wants of a ahead command put up that’s usually powered by tactical generator units. To make sure continuity, two turbines are always operating, subsequently doubling the gasoline consumption. Utilizing a single ATeMM, the automobile engine can be utilized for backup energy.
ATeMM-T – the Modular UGV
One other side of ATeMM versatility is coupling two items into unmanned autos (ATeMM-T). In contrast to different UGVs that require charging, transportation, disembarking, and arrange by robotics specialists, on the level of deployment, ATeMMs are merely towed by the autos and deployed by the troops to start their mission. As much as 4 ATeMMs will be linked to type an 8×8 robotic that may carry weapon stations, missile launchers, sensors on a telescopic mast, Counter-AUS methods, and extra, with a completely electrical drive offering energy equal to 800 HP. When not used as a robotic platform every unit will be decoupled and function an influence provide, delivering as much as 100 kW/h to help different methods.
As a tandem, ATeMM-T will be indifferent from the host automobile and function through distant management, enabling unmanned journey with low signature (warmth, noise). ATeMM-T can carry twice the payload of the ATeMM (2.3 tons), storing an elevated power reserve of as much as 70 kWh. One other benefit of the system is its skill to deploy with its payload as an autonomous unit, thus avoiding complicated and costly modifications to the host automobile.
ATeMM is as far out of your grandfather’s trailer as a smartphone differs from the Fifties phone. It offers many companies for mobility, power provide, or system integration on autos, however its most vital contribution is including flexibility, agility, and resilience to army forces within the area, the place they will improvise and apply it to their missions as a helpful multitool.
