DERA is the largest research organisation of its kind in western Europe and a centre of excellence for science, technology and evaluation. Primarily it exists to serve the needs of the Ministry of Defence by providing the scientific and technical advice that will ensure the nation has the military capability necessary for the successful implementation of the government's defence and security policies. Also DERA ensures that advice and technology transfers to industry so that new equipment is available to meet future needs and new technologies may be exploited for the maximum benefit of the nation as a whole.
DERA offers a unique range of services from the highest level of operational studies and analysis through various categories of basic and applied research to consultancy advice on the procurement process. It also provides test and evaluation capabilities for equipment in an operational environment.
The quality of research carried out by the operating divisions of DERA is such that many of its discoveries and inventions have found important civil applications with rewarding commercial consequences. These inventions include liquid crystal displays, thermal imaging and carbon fibre. Current DERA land systems research projects cover vehicle engineering and design, human/machine interface, vehicle electronics technology (vetronics) system design, armour systems and future vehicle concepts.
DERA has developed specific knowledge in many areas fundamental to the performance of specialist vehicles. Combined with particular expertise in solving design problems presented by difficult, dangerous or uncertain operating environments, this knowledge has provided the experience for DERA to offer authoritative advice, innovative engineering solutions and a broad range of technical services.
| Concept demonstrators such as the DRA 6x6 high-performance, cross-country, 9-tonne load carrier facilitate the refinement of designs and the ultimate integration of various vehicle systems |
Frequently DERA carries out feasibility and concept studies for specialist vehicles to establish the significance and impact of new technologies. Most often these studies focus on the performance and reliability of a vehicle. Studies carried out recently in this area include central tyre inflation systems (CTIS) for improved off-road mobility; independent suspension systems for heavy vehicles; and specification of the future UK army vehicle fleet incorporating anticipated technology developments.
One programme is responsible for research into future combat-support vehicles and is aimed at those topics not being addressed by major truck and components manufacturers and in general refers to anything to do with cross-country and dual-purpose use.
| The CSDF2, DERA's laboratory-based crew-station simulator, assesses advanced crew-station techniques and technologies. It offers simulated episcope, mast sensor and turret sensor views, and both daylight TV and thermal imaging for sensors |
Mobility, stability and handling are critical attributes for these vehicles and the move away from commercially based trucks requires a significant under-standing of the integration of various systems into military vehicles. Concept designs are used as platforms to establish the military significance of emerging technologies and in recent years programmes to investigate the critical areas of suspension design and mobility have been instigated. Modified 8-tonne trucks are used for the investigation, one with large wheels and tyres and a CTIS, one with beam axles and coil springs, one with an independent suspension system (ISS) with coil springs and another ISS with hydro-pneumatic struts.
Multi-bodied dynamic modelling has been established in order to predict the handling, stability and ride of vehicles. Models of the modified 8-tonne vehicles have been used to predict these aspects of their performance. These models are validated by trials with real vehicles on the extensive on- and off-road test tracks available within DERA.
| DERA expertise in armour systems ranges from analysis of fundamental armour physics to the practical design and test of armour systems for all AFVs, and a range of DERA facilities permits fully instrumented ballistic testing of armour configurations |
The results of this research combined with other areas of technology are being used to form the basis of concept demonstrators. These facilitate the refinement of designs and the ultimate integration of various vehicle systems. One such demonstrator is a high-performance, cross-country, 9-tonne load carrier. The purpose of this vehicle is to demonstrate that it can be produced in a cost-effective manner from commercially available components. This MoD-funded vehicle has been designed by DERA and is being manufactured by Ricardo consulting engineers. The vehicle has a 6x6 configuration with CTIS, ISS and hydro-pneumatic springing media. It will have a gross vehicle weight of 18 tonnes and a power out-put of 261kW (350bhp). The engine and transmission will be controlled electronically and all six wheels will be steered. The four front wheels will be power-assisted and linked mechanically and the two rear wheels will be steered by speed-sensitive electronically controlled hydraulic actuation.
Research at the human/machine interface aims to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of military vehicle operators who now have to manage an extensive range of tasks.
| Right: ERA's experience and expertise in vetronics system design and integration is typified by the VERDI demonstrator programme that shows how an HMI can cope with complex crew tasks |
The safe and reliable integration of new features that will appear on the next generation of military vehicles needs to consider how information should be presented to drivers and requires an effective human/machine interface (HMI). This covers the transfer of information, the operator's decision and the execution of control or commands from the driver to the vehicle or beyond, and requires an assessment of a driver's ability to cope.
An example of DERA's crew-station simulation capabilities is the crew-station demonstration facility (CSDF2). This laboratory-based tool is used to assess advanced crew-station techniques and technologies. It offers simulated episcope, mast sensor and turret sensor views, and both daylight TV and thermal imaging for sensors. Each of the two crew stations has a digital map onto which tactical information is displayed. This may be derived from tracking sensors, manually entered digital reports such as battlefield information communication systems (BICS) or simulated incoming digital reports. The scale and orientation of the maps are controlled by the crew.
Other features included are weapon systems, defensive aids systems (DAS), automatic tracking systems, laser range-finders, voice communications, vehicle dynamics and sound.
Crew-station hardware and software modules are fully reconfigurable and vehicle simulation can be modified to represent any armoured fighting vehicle. Full exercise control and data- logging capabilities are available through the simulation framework and multiplexed video recordings that cover interactions within the vehicle and those on the battlefield. This research has enabled the Mission Systems Skill Group to design and produce the crew station for VERDI-2.
The simulation framework utilises an object-orientated approach to allow a wide range of different vehicle types and systems to be prototyped. It provides a generic interface allowing a wide range of image generators to be used to produce simulated views of the battlefield for the representation of a wide range of vision devices and is the basis for the CSDF2. Computer-generated forces simulate additional friendly and opposing forces as well as mine-fields and indirect fire.
The use of distributed interactive simulation allows the simulators to carry out a full range of interactions with other entities on a virtual battlefield. These can include computer-generated forces-manned simulators connected through local or long-distance networks.
The DERA Mission Systems Skill Group also has developed an immersive virtual-reality simulator that can be linked to the simulation framework. It is based on a spatial mock-up and uses a virtual-reality headset to display virtual representations of the vehicle crew station (including lamps, displays and controls) and the outside environment. Tracking of the crew's hands allows interaction with the virtual vehicle controls. Controls such as steering yokes or pedals require realistic tactile and force feedback and are represented using physical devices with visual replication in the virtual environment. Varying representations of tactile feedback are provided for other devices such as switches.
DERA's experience and expertise in vetronics system design and integration was typified by the vehicle electronics research defence initiative (VERDI) demonstrator programme. VERDI showed convincingly how an effective HMI can be designed to cope with complex crew tasks, and implemented using current vehicle electronics technology.
This programme also showed the benefits of reduced wiring, increased adaptability and improved functionality that arises from a fully integrated vehicle electronics system based on a databus architecture.
DERA expertise in armour systems ranges from analysis of fundamental armour physics to the practical design and test of armour systems for all AFVs. Probably Chobham armour is the most widely known success, but international award-winning work still pushes forward the frontiers of lightweight armours using sandwich and ceramic materials. A world-class modelling capability allows characterisation and analysis of different armour concepts before prototyping and a range of DERA facilities permits fully instrumented ballistic testing of armour configurations.
| Research has enabled the Mission Systems Skill Group to design and produce the crew station for VERDI-2. The simulation framework utilises an object-orientated approach to allow a wide range of different vehicle types and systems to be prototyped |
DERA scientists constantly analyse the possible characteristics of a future battlefield and the likely characteristics of the vehicles that will operate in it. An example of a DERA-led future vehicle research project is the advanced composite armoured vehicle platform (ACAVP) project that is known affectionately as the plastic tank. This project is led by DERA Land Systems in partnership with Short Brothers and Vickers Defence Systems.
The ACAVP project is concentrating on the two main issues of hull design and its producibility. The hull of ACAVP is constructed from top and bottom mouldings made from epoxy-bonded glass fibres. The ballistic protection is enhanced by the use of a layer of add-on metal armour. By themselves, epoxy-glass-fibre laminates offer extremely good protection against shell fragments, especially in parts of the hull where these laminates are up to 60-65mm thick. The strength of these laminates comes from glass fibres, therefore it is important that their glass content is as high as possible. A glass-fibre content of 60 per cent by volume has been achieved in test mouldings by using a resin transfer moulding process.
| The plastic tank is a prime example of DERA scientists' approach to future vehicle concepts. Known officially as the advanced composite armoured vehicle platform (ACAVP), the project has concentrated on epoxy-bonded, glass-fibre hull design that offers good protection against shell fragments |
A reduction in total vehicle weight for the ACAVP over metal hulls will amount to 22 tonnes combat loaded, but weight savings of this order are not yet sufficient to justify the adoption of resin-bonded, glass-fibre hulls. However, the necessary reductions in weight are less important at this stage of development than establishing whether such hulls can be produced economically and operate satisfactorily. Answers will not begin to emerge until they are built and in the case of the ACAVP this should be by the end of 1997.
