Dual-Use Technologies for Commercial and Military Applications on Display

    WARREN, Mich., Feb. 20 /PRNewswire/ -- The United States Army Tank-
automotive and Armaments Command's National Automotive Center (NAC) will
exhibit the Army's continuing role in developing fuel cells and a broad range
of cutting-edge ground vehicle technologies at the Society of Automotive
Engineers (SAE) 2003 World Congress in Detroit's Cobo Center, March 3-6, 2003.
The Army's three display booths will demonstrate innovations that improve
vehicle efficiency, safety and endurance while reducing design, manufacturing,
and operation and maintenance costs.
    General Paul J. Kern, Commanding General, U.S. Army Materiel Command, will
deliver the keynote address at the SAE 2003 World Congress on Tuesday, March
4.  The General will address the future of military ground propulsion and give
an update on the Army's advancement of vehicle technologies through automotive
industry partnerships.
    Some of the technologies that NAC engineers are advancing will be on
display at this year's show.  They include military vehicle fuel cell
technology, alternative fuels, hybrid hydraulic vehicle propulsion systems,
motion capture/human modeling for simulation-based evaluation of ground
vehicle design, 42-volt automotive electrical systems and an Omni-Directional
Inspection System (ODIS) robot and trainer.
    One of the current key areas of research and development for NAC engineers
is fuel cell technology.  The Army continues to partner and share costs with
fuel cell and automotive companies to develop fuel cell technologies that meet
commercial and military needs.  This important technology has near-term and
future benefits to the military.  Currently, the Army fuel cell strategy is to
focus on fuel cell auxiliary power units (APUs) for near-term benefit; lead
early demonstrations of hydrogen-fueled fuel cell powered cars, light trucks
and buses on military installations; and pursue technologies that adapt
commercial fuel cell propulsion to military vehicle propulsion.
    SmarTruck II, which was unveiled in January at the North American
International Auto Show, will also be on display.  SmarTruck II is a versatile
prototype, multi-purpose vehicle capable of both counterterrorism and homeland
security uses.  This innovative 6x6 all-wheel drive vehicle's modular design
allows it to be easily adapted to also meet a variety of community service and
humanitarian missions.  The technology enhancements to this vehicle are truly
formidable.
    The COMmercialy BAsed Tactical Truck (COMBATT), another example of a
program partnership with industry, will be on display in the General Motors
and DaimlerChrysler exhibit booths.  This modified commercial heavy-duty
pickup is engineered to provide the Army a vehicle with enhanced off-road
mobility, better durability in a military environment, state-of-the-art
technologies and reduced acquisition and ownership costs.  Hybrid technology
is now being incorporated into the program.
    The Army is at the forefront of emerging vehicle technologies and has
developed long-term partnerships with the automotive industry to assure that
new dual-use technologies can be obtained without duplication and waste.  The
Army is committed to the use of alternative power sources as evidenced by the
hybrid electric and fuel cell vehicles that are already being tested in the
field.
    Key NAC engineers and scientists participate on SAE committees to share
research with other academic, industry and government organizations to develop
standards in their particular area of expertise.
    The National Automotive Center is the Army's official link to working with
commercial industry and academia partners to create new vehicles that will
give the Army the mobility, survivability and agility it needs to operate
efficiently and effectively in today's new threat environment.  For the
military, the NAC's partnership approach makes it possible to improve vehicle
performance, safety and endurance while reducing design, manufacturing,
operations and maintenance costs.  For commercial partners, the application of
jointly developed technologies has similar impacts ... safer cars and trucks,
more advanced technology available to the consumer and lower cost because of
the broader market base.

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