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Military technologies are typically the product of long-term development efforts. These technologies are often adapted late in the development process for use by other users, including other members of the defense enterprise, foreign militaries, or the commercial sector. The need to adapt a technology can arise from cost over-runs or changing operational requirements. This article describes a value-based methodology for developing a transition plan early in the development process, when the system is still in the conceptual phase. Performing this analysis early in the design phase allows for design choices that will support adapting the system for other users. Moreover, it provides a risk mitigation strategy against cost over-run and changes in operational requirements. The process begins by capturing the functional architecture of the technology and analyzing them against a set of tasks associated with different military positions. From there, the adapted technology is evaluated for its projected adequacy based on the value added and the effort required for adaptation. The end-state of this analysis is a value-based model that identifies a portfolio of possible alternative markets and/or uses, which can be comparatively analyzed. A case study is presented for adapting a military augmented reality system for a different market.

As the United States Army strives for electrification and hybridization of tactical and combat vehicles in alignment with its Climate Strategy, it is necessary to capture all aspects of the drive cycle. One key area for consideration is the amount of time that the vehicles spend idling. Indeed, military vehicles can idle for a considerable amount of time, especially given that soldiers must keep their vehicles running to power critical electronic subsystems. Current, standardized drive cycles do not fully capture the degree that military vehicles idle. This study begins to address this gap by analyzing geo-location data collected from the National Training Center (NTC) for several different tactical vehicles including the High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV), the Bradley Fighting Vehicle, and the Abrams Main Battle Tank. This paper details the extraction, cleaning, and analysis of the geo-location data. The analysis provides insight to how often each vehicle type was stationary over the course of a multi-week training exercise. When coupled with common tactics required in this operating environment, the total amount of time that each vehicle was idling may be approximated. The analysis found that over a given training rotation at NTC, the vehicles spent a considerable amount of time idling, leading to a significant amount of fuel consumption. The paper concludes by evaluating opportunities to mitigate vehicle idle fuel consumption including anti-idle kits and auxiliary power units.

As the U.S. Army moves to electrify portions of its vehicle fleet, it is worth considering the heavier combat vehicles. However, the high power demand of these vehicles coupled with the relatively low energy density of modern batteries result in electric vehicles with limited range and functionality. Hydrogen-based fuel cells are an alternative to batteries that can provide many of the same environmental and logistical benefits associated with electrification. This study models the energy consumption for two variants of the M2A4 Bradley Fighting Vehicle (BFV). The first variant is powered by a hydrogen-based Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell; the second variant is powered through lithium-ion batteries. These models account for vehicle weight, accelerative forces, drag, road grade, tractive losses, and ancillary equipment and are compared against a conventional M2A4 BFV. The analysis also considers the weight and volume restrictions for the powertrain especially as they relate to the storage of hydrogen and batteries. In doing so, the range of the vehicle with each powertrain can be determined. Furthermore, the study looks at the logistical needs associated with such vehicles. In particular, it approximates the quantity of fuel, water, and solar panels required to produce enough electricity to recharge batteries or electrolyze water for hydrogen production. The analysis then evaluates the trade-offs between vehicle range and logistical footprint associated with the different powertrains. The study then concludes with a discussion on the technical challenges associated with each powertrain.

Due to environmental concerns and cost issues, coal is currently being phased out from usage in electricity production. Regardless, there remains a massive stockpile of coal reserves along with a large industrial complex and a robust distribution/processing infrastructure. As such, coal should be considered for usage in other energy areas. Since coal is simply a solid hydrocarbon, it can be converted over for usage as a transportation fuel. The Fischer-Tropsch process that underlies this conversion is well established with some countries like South Africa currently using it at large scales. Unfortunately, this conversion process has a large carbon footprint, even when using carbon capture technology. However, the blending of coal-based fuels with biodiesel has been found to be more carbon neutral than standard diesel or biodiesel alone. Additionally, coal can be used as an alternate to methane for hydrogen production. Given carbon capture technologies and the existing coal infrastructure, these two uses of coal provide opportunities for a sustainable and economical use of coal as a transportation fuel.

The rapid growth and widespread availability of technology has allowed enemies to dynamically develop countermeasures to military systems. Therefore, it is imperative that military systems be designed to account for these countermeasures. As such, technology roadmapping should be a critical activity in the acquisition of defense systems. Technology roadmaps provide a strategic vision for a system that accounts for the operational context, including evolving needs and technology changes. However, the operational context can be difficult to predict. This article suggests using wargaming coupled with combat simulation to better understand the operational context to allow for testing and refining technology roadmaps. Wargaming requires teams to roleplay friendly and enemy units to determine how each side adapts with the implementation of a new military system. Computer-based simulations can then convert the qualitative results from the wargame into quantitative metrics that further inform the roadmap. A case study is presented for a technology roadmap associated with an armored exoskeleton. Wargaming forecasted the countermeasures implemented by the enemy and the associated responses. The wargame results were coupled with models to quantitatively forecast the change in the warfighter's survivability and lethality. The wargame was then used to inform the technology roadmap.

The Hyper-Enabled Operator (HEO) project seeks to increase the survivability of special forces operators through increased situational awareness (SA) capabilities. The precursor to HEO was the Tactical Assault Light Operator Suit (TALOS) which sought to protect operators during room clearing operations by increasing their armor coverage. This study used combat modeling to compare the benefits of HEO to TALOS. This project developed four base models, each based on a relevant mission set. Each base model was compared against two variant models. The first variant provided the operators with enhanced SA. The second variant increased operator armor coverage without a performance degradation from increased weight. For some scenarios the incorporation of SA increased survivability more than a large increase in armor. Further, the study found that enhancing SA increases survivability by 8.3% on average for the four mission sets; this increase is similar to increasing armor coverage by a factor of four.

The purpose of this article and study is to analyze the effectiveness of the Engagement Skills Trainer 2000 (EST2000), which is the program of record for Army marksmanship training. The EST2000 has only been used for training with the actual marksmanship qualification being done on live ranges. However, the newest version of the rifle qualification course will include a component of shooting on the EST2000. Thus, this study is designed to evaluate the effectiveness of the EST2000 in capturing real-world performance. USMA cadets were recruited to complete the Basic Rifle Marksmanship (BRM) course on the EST2000, and these results were compared to the shooter’s performance on a live BRM course. A paired t-test was conducted to determine whether the EST2000 scores and the BRM scores were statistically different, and an R2 value was calculated to determine the relationship between the soldier’s performance on the EST2000 and real-world performance.

Autonomous systems are the future of military warfare and must be carefully employed to hold the advantage in technological advances. In an effort to measure the capabilities of autonomous systems within military units, this study analyzes the effects an autonomous system has while integrated into an Army Infantry unit. Using combat modeling software, a constructive reality modeled breaching and fires mission scenarios to determine the effects an autonomous system may have within a unit. Within the model limitations, statistical analysis supported that an autonomous system has a general impact on increasing a unit’s lethality and survivability. These statistically significant conclusions support that autonomous systems should be integrated within military units since these systems have a strong, positive impact on unit effectiveness. Additional data analysis and extending the analysis to other combat scenarios is crucial in applying these conclusions outside of the tested scenarios.

The Hyper-Enabled Operator (HEO) system is the next-generation Special Forces system that will increase the survivability and lethality of operators by providing the right person with the right information at the right time. This system was originally intended for direct-action operators; however, the need for information is common to many Special Forces jobs, including joint terminal air controllers, helicopter pilots, helicopter crew chiefs, intelligence officers, psyops officers, civil affairs officers, and vehicle drivers. This analysis set out to determine the applicability of HEO technology to these eight different positions. First, the HEO system was analyzed to identify the technologies that will play a role in the system. Stakeholder analysis then provided insights into each job, allowing for the determination of their capability gaps. These capability gaps were then aligned against HEO technology. The analysis revealed that several high-level requirements should be added to the HEO system to make it adaptable across the Special Forces enterprise.

The United States military must maintain the ability to rapidly deploy, world-wide, under severe time constraints. As a result, units and organizations have developed standardized, documented processes and procedures to quickly deploy personnel, equipment, and supplies. This research examines a typical military vehicle outload process, models the process with a discrete-event simulation, and identifies opportunities to increase process efficiency. The recommended improvements are incorporated within the simulation to identify the impacts of the changes. Model analysis reveals that an increase in a critical resource (i.e. vehicle inspection teams) can significantly reduce the time required to process a 350-vehicle fleet. Additionally, automating the hazardous material (HAZMAT) documentation and vehicle weight and center of balance computations resulted in time savings, although less significant. It is possible to implement these two automated activities across all installations, further improving deployment operations. With only minor modifications, the presented model can be adjusted to replicate other installation deployment processes and can have significant impacts on how the U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force deploy equipment.

Recent years and modern warfare have shown an increasing reliance on the cyber domain to maintain national and military operability, resulting in cyber exploits having a more profound impact on victim nations. As the United States seeks to maximize its ability to capitalize on these exploits and minimize its susceptibility, a decision must be made on the most effective way to accomplish these tasks. Currently, each major department within the Department of Defense (DoD) are methodically building up their own cyber assets to accomplish these tasks as they relate to their traditional domain. There has been a recent proposal to do away with this system structure and instead create a separate Cyber Department, on the same level as the Army, Navy, etc. This paper evaluates the comparative value between the two proposals through value modeling. The value model is based on each alternative’s ability to achieve the end state cyber goals of the DoD and the nation as a whole. Strong indicators point towards a separate Cyber Department as the most valuable alternative available to achieve the nation’s goals, and that there are current weaknesses within our current cyber structure that are open for exploitation.

Though it is widely known that weapon weight affects shooter stability, the quantitative effects on lethality and survivability are not well known. This issue stems from weapon lethality primarily being captured by equipment properties. A more holistic analysis can be performed by treating the soldier as a system by incorporating human factors with equipment performance specifications. This analysis requires the building of human factor models to appropriately capture lethality. The model development effort started with the collecting of data from experiments where the shot group accuracy was measured for weighted rifles. The resulting data was used to generate a mathematical model. This model, along with other human factor models, was integrated into the Weapon Lethality Service (WLS), a cloud-based simulation. The WLS was then set up to represent possible combat situations; the results were used to quantify the change in soldier lethality and survivability from changing the weapon weight.

The rifleman will play a crucial role in future conflicts, so it is imperative that the Army outfits them with the right equipment. However, there is a tendency to provide them with every new technology as it becomes available. This results in a situation where the rifleman is overloaded with technology, only some of which is relevant to the mission. This effect can be resolved by treating the rifleman as a system, comprised of a soldier that is integrated with equipment, focused on performing a mission. This study uses model-based systems engineering to design the rifleman of the future, looking out to 2050. This analysis initially develops a functional model of the current rifleman, identifying the functions and subfunctions that they perform. They must be able to shoot, move, communicate, survive, and sustain. These functions are then allocated against the current equipment set including rifles, body-armor, and radios. The functional model is then updated to reflect the future mission set of the rifleman. The updated functional model is aligned against the current equipment set to identify gaps and needs. New technologies are then allocated against these gaps and needs. The goal of this analysis is to divest from science fiction and focus on what the future rifleman will need to win on the battlefield.

Lithium-ion batteries have enabled electric vehicles to achieve a foothold in the automobile market. Due to an increasing environmental consciousness, electric vehicles are expected to take a larger portion of the market, with the ultimate goal of supplanting traditional vehicles. However, the involved costs, sustainability, and technical limitations of lithium-ion batteries do create substantial obstacles to this goal. Therefore, this article aims at presenting magnesium-ion batteries as a potential replacement for lithium-ion batteries. Though still under development, magnesium-ion batteries show promise in achieving similar volumetric and specific capacities to lithium-ion batteries. Additionally, magnesium is substantially more abundant than lithium, allowing for the batteries to be cheaper and more sustainable. Numerous technical challenges related to cathode and electrolyte selection are yet to be solved for magnesium-ion batteries. This paper discusses the current state-of-the-art of magnesium-ion batteries with a particular emphasis on the material selection. Although, current research indicates that sulfur-based cathodes coupled with a (HMDS)2Mg-based electrolyte shows substantial promise, other options could allow for a better performing battery. This paper addresses the challenges (materials and costs) and benefits associated with developing these batteries. When overcoming these challenges, magnesium-ion batteries are posed to be a groundbreaking technology potentially revolutionizing the vehicle industry.

Purpose: The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the practicability of liquid ionization chamber (LIC) for pretreatment dose verification of the advanced radiotherapy techniques such as volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT). Materials and Methods: The dosimetric characteristics of LIC such as repeatability, sensitivity, monitor unit linearity, dose rate dependence, angular dependence, voltage-current response, and output factors were investigated in 6 MV therapeutic X-ray beams. The LIC was cross-calibrated against 0.125-cc air-filled thimble ionization chamber. A dedicated dosimetry insert made up of Perspex to incorporate the LIC at proper location in the intensity-modulated radiation therapy thorax phantom was locally fabricated. The collection efficiency and ion recombination correction factor was determined using the two-dose rate method. Pretreatment dose verification measurement of VMAT treatment plans were carried out using the liquid ionization chamber as well as small volume (0.125 cc) air-filled thimble ionization chamber. The measured dose values by the two dosimeters and TPS calculated dose at a given point were compared. Results: The relative percentage differences between the TPS calculated and measured doses were within ± 1.57% for LIC and ± 2.21% for 0.125 cc ionization chamber, respectively. Conclusions: The measured dose values by the two dosimeters and TPS calculated dose at a given point were found comparable suggesting that the LIC could be a good choice of dosimeter for pretreatment dose verification in VMAT.

The Tactical Assault Light Operator Suit (TALOS) is a powered, armored exoskeleton designed to enhance an operator’s survivability, lethality, and mobility. The suit is a SOCOM initiative using rapid acquisition practices with a functional prototype expected in 2018. Value modeling allows the TALOS design teams to rapidly perform design trade analysis while ensuring that the proposed system is in-line with the operator’s needs. A stochastic value model was built for the power subsystem through an analysis of the requirements to develop value hierarchies, swing-weight matrices, and value functions. An Excel based tool performed trade-off analysis to determine the best design solution. This tool accounts for uncertainty in raw data values to create distributions in the cost and value of each design alternative, which is critical for assessing risk. The model was expanded to other subsystems as well as the suit as a whole.

As America’s global adversaries increase their capabilities on the battlefield, US military forces must enhance warfighter’s survivability, lethality, and mobility. These needs can be met by augmenting warfighters with additional equipment. The increased use of equipment, however, creates an additional need for an exoskeleton that can support the added equipment, while also augmenting the warfighter’s mobility. Traditionally, exoskeletons have had acceptance issues related to poor operational mobility. USSOCOM is building the Tactical Assault Light Operator Suit (TALOS) as the next generation of these armored exoskeletons. This paper explains the methodology for developing a test plan to ensure adequate mobility for the warfighter wearing the TALOS system. Operational missions were decomposed into tasks which were further broken down into individual movements. Motion capture data was used to determine the angles and angular velocities imposed on relevant joints during these movements. This information was mapped to a set of exercises that were then compiled into a test plan, which can be used during the testing phase to ensure proper mobility for operators utilizing the system.

Modern automobiles and fuels were shaped heavily by the development of the octane number tests. These tests were developed between 1929 and 1932 to quantify a fuel’s anti-knock performance in spark...

Since technology is rapidly advancing, systems engineers must now design for adaptability, such that the system can be updated with new components as they become available. Designing for adaptability typically requires analyzing and evaluating technologies at various stages of maturity to determine if they should be incorporated into the design. As such, technology roadmaps are a useful tool to identifying the change in a technology with time. Though traditional technology roadmaps are based on raw performance data, a technology roadmap based on value modeling would be more appropriate for system design. Value modeling is a technique used for evaluating different design decisions while focusing on the needs of the stakeholder. A qualitative model is built to determine what value measures are of concern to the stakeholder; a quantitative model is then built to convert raw performance data into a value score for evaluation. This process can be expanded to show the change in value score based on new technologies through the inclusion of uncertainty and the time domain. The SIPMath® Tool is Microsoft Excel provided a useful tool for building this model. A case study for different unmanned aerial vehicle batteries is presented to display this process.