Tag Archives: JTARV

Ground Forces

Hoverbike prototype

The Army Research Laboratory (ARL) and industry partners demonstrated the flying capabilities of a unique rectangular-shaped quadcopter during a visit from Department of Defense (DoD) officials January 10. Doctor William Roper, director of the Strategic Capabilities Office at the Office of the Secretary of Defense and members of his staff visited the Aberdeen Proving Ground laboratory to see the Joint Tactical Aerial Resupply Vehicle, or JTARV.

Army researchers and industry partners fly a prototype rectangular-shaped quadcopter during a visit from DOD officials to Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, January 10, 2017 (Photo Credit: Jhi Scott, ARL)
Army researchers and industry partners fly a prototype rectangular-shaped quadcopter during a visit from DOD officials to Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, January 10, 2017 (Photo Credit: Jhi Scott, ARL)

Also known as the «hoverbike», the vehicle may one day make it possible for Soldiers on the battlefield to order resupply and then receive those supplies rapidly.

During the visit, Roper told laboratory officials that he is concerned about adapting future technology advances. He said he wants to figure out how to get people to «see something that’s coming on the shelf, immediately identify the use, determine if it’s good enough for rock and roll, get it into the field, but in a way that allows us to keep one-upping it».

Researchers envision a future JTARV flying low to the ground or at thousands of feet at speeds of 60 miles per hour/96 kilometers per hour or more. «Anywhere on the battlefield, Soldiers can potentially get resupplied in less than 30 minutes», said Tim Vong, associate chief of ARL’s Protection Division. He likened the concept to «Amazon on the battlefield». «We want to have options like that», Vong said.

While the current prototype is electric, researchers are looking at a hybrid propulsion system that could dramatically increase range. «We’re exploring increasing payload capacity to 800 pounds/363 kg and extending the range up to 125 miles/201 km», Vong said. «We’re also looking to integrate advanced intelligent navigation and mission planning. We’re looking to end up with a modular, stable platform that can be used for even more dynamic and challenging missions».

The laboratory began exploring the JTARV concept in the summer of 2014. They identified a manufacturer, Malloy Aeronautics, and a systems integrator, SURVICE, entered into a contract and moved quickly from concept to full-scale prototypes.

The JTARV is now a joint effort with the Marine Corps, led by Army researchers, at the Army Armament Research, Development and Engineering Center (ARDEC) at Picatinny Arsenal, New Jersey; however, the ARL researchers still serve as subject matter experts on aeromechanics, assessment, analysis, propulsion, intelligence and controls and materials and structures.

«The project is successful because we went from concept development to engineering evaluation in collaboration with all various government agencies and industry», explained Ernesto Garcia Lopez, ARDEC. «The demo we saw was a unique opportunity for us to show a seamless transition between one Army organization and another Army organization and having the industry along the whole time», he said.

In addition to other industry, government and academic partners, the JTARV project is teaming with the Office of Naval Research. «Researchers hope to demonstrate full autonomy in the near future», Vong said.

«I think the visit was a great success», Vong said. «It gave us an opportunity to showcase to Dr. Roper ideas and also the progress we’ve been making in exploiting commercial UAS technologies».

The U.S. Army Research Laboratory is part of the U.S. Army Research, Development and Engineering Command (RDECOM), which has the mission to provide innovative research, development and engineering to produce capabilities that provide decisive overmatch to the Army against the complexities of the current and future operating environments in support of the joint warfighter and the nation. RDECOM is a major subordinate command of the U.S. Army Materiel Command.

Army flies hoverbike prototype

Ground Forces

Resupply Vehicle

Researchers and engineers showcased a Joint Tactical Aerial Resupply Vehicle, or JTARV, during a recent visit by commanding general of the Army Research, Development and Engineering Command (RDECOM).

Researchers see a future JTARV flying low to the ground or at thousands of feet at speeds of 60 miles per hour/96 km/h or more. With a payload capacity of up to 300 pounds/136 kg, the vehicle could provide vital resupply at short ranges (Photo Credit: Courtesy photo)
Researchers see a future JTARV flying low to the ground or at thousands of feet at speeds of 60 miles per hour/96 km/h or more. With a payload capacity of up to 300 pounds/136 kg, the vehicle could provide vital resupply at short ranges (Photo Credit: Courtesy photo)

The JTARV, a rectangular-shaped quadcopter also known as the hoverbike, could someday make it possible for Soldiers on the battlefield to order resupply and then, minutes later, receive supplies from an unmanned aerial vehicle. In 2013, 60 percent of U.S. combat causalities were related to convoy resupply.

«Convoy resupply involves having a route clearance package, which means more vehicles», Sergeant 1st Class Daniel Guenther, an enlisted advisor at the ARL Weapons and Materials Research Directorate, told Major General Cedric T. Wins on the general’s first visit since assuming command of RDECOM in August. «Those need to be coordinated in advance. This negates the need for all that. Basically what this does is give us speed and agility on the battlefield».

Army researchers envision a future JTARV flying low to the ground or at thousands of feet at speeds of 60 miles per hour/96 km/h or more. With a payload capacity of up to 300 pounds/136 kg, the vehicle could provide vital resupply at short ranges.

«Anywhere on the battlefield, Soldiers can potentially get resupplied in less than 30 minutes», said Tim Vong, associate chief of the Army Research Laboratory’s Protection Division. He likened the concept to «Amazon on the battlefield». «We want to have options like that», Vong said.

While the current prototype is electric, researchers are looking at a hybrid propulsion system that may dramatically increase its range. They are also exploring increasing the payload capacity to 800 pounds/363 kg and extending the range to 125 miles/201 km.

«We’re also looking to integrate advanced intelligent navigation and mission planning», Vong said. «We’re looking to end up with a modular, stable platform that can be used for even more dynamic and challenging missions».

The laboratory began exploring the JTARV concept in the summer of 2014. They discovered a manufacturer, Malloy Aeronautics, and a systems integrator, SURVICE. The laboratory entered into a contract and quickly moved from concept to full-scale prototypes.

Earlier this year, ARL transferred the program to another RDECOM organization, Army Armament Research, Development and Engineering Center at Picatinny, New Jersey; however, the lab still serves as subject matter experts on aeromechanics, assessment, analysis, propulsion, intelligence and controls and materials and structures.

«We’re taking a spiral approach», Vong said. «We’re looking at adding sensors for obstacle avoidance and building a semi-autonomous capability. This will help the craft to avoid obstacles like powerlines, buildings, or trees, he said. It will also allow the vehicle to operate in degraded visual environments».

In June 2016, the Marine Corps joined the program to make it a joint effort.

«I’m very impressed», Wins said. «It’s my first opportunity to come out to the Army Research Lab. As the new commander, I’m just getting around to all the Research, Development and Engineering Centers and the labs».

The general specifically wanted to be briefed on the JTARV.

«I’m hearing a lot about it», he said. «I wanted to see what it was all about. It demonstrates to me the high quality of the workforce», he said. «It also shows what our people are doing and how they’re thinking about the problem of how the Army will fight in the future».

In addition to many other industry, government and academic partners, the JTARV project is teaming with the Office of Naval Research and Near Earth Autonomy, a company with many employees associated with Carnegie Mellon University, to demonstrate full autonomy in near future.

The general said he plans to make more visits with scientists and engineers across the command.

«I am interested in really getting an understanding of how this command works, how this command provides support to the operator and how we can convey that message to the Army – that we are focused on the priorities of the Army … that we’re focused on delivering capabilities to the Army that help the future force», he said.

The U.S. Army Research Laboratory is part of the U.S. Army Research, Development and Engineering Command, which has the mission to ensure decisive overmatch for unified land operations to empower the Army, the joint warfighter and our nation. RDECOM is a major subordinate command of the U.S. Army Materiel Command.

Major General Cedric T. Wins, U.S. Army Research, Development and Engineering Command, learned about a futuristic resupply vehicle from scientists and engineers during his first visit to the Army Research Laboratory September 8, 2016. Wins assumed command of RDECOM last month