ULTRA AP
Encyclopedia
The ULTRA AP is a concept combat vehicle
that was unveiled in September 2005 by the Georgia Tech Research Institute
, the applied research arm of the Georgia Institute of Technology
, under contract from the Office of Naval Research
. This was followed in 2009 with the ULTRA II, which was more focused on further developing the crew compartment.
The Ultra AP was reviewed in Rolling Stone
magazine, Fortune Magazine, USA Today
, and Car and Driver
magazine among many other publications. Currently, the U.S. military and the Department of Defense
are in the process of replacing the HMMWV
or Humvee, because they are being fielded in situations they were not designed for, such as taking on small arms fire, rocket propelled grenades, and improvised explosive devices.
six times greater than a Humvee, and was designed and built within a matter of months. Ownership of the concept vehicle itself was transferred from the Office of Naval Research to the Georgia Tech Research Institute in February 2010 so that research could continue.
It features an egg-shaped crew capsule nicknamed the "blast bucket". It is shaped to deflect blasts and bullets and act as a roll-cage if the vehicle flips. The four occupants sit back to back in a diamond arrangement so that they can see hazards from all directions, a suggestion from troops in the field. It also moves the occupants away from the wheels, which are typically what sets off a land mine. The Ultra AP includes race car technology from NASCAR
engineers like multipoint safety harnesses and shock-absorbing seats mounted on Skydex, which is used to cushion the outfield walls of baseball stadiums. It also uses the latest in bulletproof glass and the newest light-weight armor technology.
's advanced engineering center; Walt Wynbelt, former program executive officer with the U.S. Army Tank Automotive and Armaments Command, and Dave McLellan
, former Corvette
chief engineer for General Motors
.
The ULTRA concept had its vehicle genesis on the US Army TARDEC COMBATT Program, sponsored by the National Automotive Center. This program explored the use of commercial vehicle platforms as a fundamental building block of more rugged military vehicles. Michael Dudzik (GTRI) and David McLellan were principals in the early transition of the COMBATT achievements to the ULTRA platform. ULTRA was able to build upon the COMBATT results and explore revolutionary designs in the integration of armor and chassis systems for increased survivability.
. The new crew-protection concept builds on the earlier GTRI research on concepts for light armored vehicles. A blast test conducted with the Ultra II at the Aberdeen Test Center showed that the vehicle could protect its occupants from improvised explosive device
s.
s, especially those involved in off-road racing
, and an armored steel skin provides structure and blast protection
. Additional armor
can be modularly bolted to the vehicle and easily reconfigured.
Another key focus of the project was the protection provided by a replaceable sacrificial "blast wedge" that is bolted to the bottom of the vehicle. Constructed from welded steel armor, it absorbs and deflects energy from a blast, acting as a crumple zone
.
Combat vehicle
A combat vehicle, also known as a ground combat vehicle, is a self-propelled, weaponized military vehicle used for combat operations. Combat vehicles can be wheeled or tracked.- Automation :...
that was unveiled in September 2005 by the Georgia Tech Research Institute
Georgia Tech Research Institute
The Georgia Tech Research Institute is the nonprofit applied research arm of the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta, Georgia, United States...
, the applied research arm of the Georgia Institute of Technology
Georgia Institute of Technology
The Georgia Institute of Technology is a public research university in Atlanta, Georgia, in the United States...
, under contract from the Office of Naval Research
Office of Naval Research
The Office of Naval Research , headquartered in Arlington, Virginia , is the office within the United States Department of the Navy that coordinates, executes, and promotes the science and technology programs of the U.S...
. This was followed in 2009 with the ULTRA II, which was more focused on further developing the crew compartment.
The Ultra AP was reviewed in Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
magazine, Fortune Magazine, USA Today
USA Today
USA Today is a national American daily newspaper published by the Gannett Company. It was founded by Al Neuharth. The newspaper vies with The Wall Street Journal for the position of having the widest circulation of any newspaper in the United States, something it previously held since 2003...
, and Car and Driver
Car and Driver
Car and Driver is an American automotive enthusiast magazine. Its total circulation is 1.31 million. It is owned by Hearst Magazines, who purchased prior owner Hachette Filipacchi Media U.S. in 2011...
magazine among many other publications. Currently, the U.S. military and the Department of Defense
United States Department of Defense
The United States Department of Defense is the U.S...
are in the process of replacing the HMMWV
HMMWV replacement process
The Humvee replacement process, now being undertaken by the US Military is an effort to replace the current AM General Humvee. The Humvee has evolved several times since its introduction, and is now used in tactical roles for which it was never originally intended. The US Military is currently...
or Humvee, because they are being fielded in situations they were not designed for, such as taking on small arms fire, rocket propelled grenades, and improvised explosive devices.
Ultra AP
Features
The vehicle was built on the skeleton of a Ford F-350 truck, combining the safety features and maneuverability of a commercially available truck with advancements in blast-deflection technology and materials. This vehicle was built for the U.S. Military to showcase possible technology and safety improvements to the Humvee (HMMWV). The ULTRA AP weighs only 8,900 pounds, has fuel efficiencyFuel efficiency
Fuel efficiency is a form of thermal efficiency, meaning the efficiency of a process that converts chemical potential energy contained in a carrier fuel into kinetic energy or work. Overall fuel efficiency may vary per device, which in turn may vary per application, and this spectrum of variance is...
six times greater than a Humvee, and was designed and built within a matter of months. Ownership of the concept vehicle itself was transferred from the Office of Naval Research to the Georgia Tech Research Institute in February 2010 so that research could continue.
It features an egg-shaped crew capsule nicknamed the "blast bucket". It is shaped to deflect blasts and bullets and act as a roll-cage if the vehicle flips. The four occupants sit back to back in a diamond arrangement so that they can see hazards from all directions, a suggestion from troops in the field. It also moves the occupants away from the wheels, which are typically what sets off a land mine. The Ultra AP includes race car technology from NASCAR
NASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
engineers like multipoint safety harnesses and shock-absorbing seats mounted on Skydex, which is used to cushion the outfield walls of baseball stadiums. It also uses the latest in bulletproof glass and the newest light-weight armor technology.
Development
In developing the ULTRA AP, GTRI's scientists and engineers assembled a team of industry professionals that included GTRI employee Scott Badenoch, who is now an advanced development and racing professional; Tom Moore, former vice president of Liberty Operations, ChryslerChrysler
Chrysler Group LLC is a multinational automaker headquartered in Auburn Hills, Michigan, USA. Chrysler was first organized as the Chrysler Corporation in 1925....
's advanced engineering center; Walt Wynbelt, former program executive officer with the U.S. Army Tank Automotive and Armaments Command, and Dave McLellan
Dave McLellan
Dave McLellan was an automotive engineer for General Motors, most notably the chief engineer for the Corvette from 1975 until his retirement in 1992....
, former Corvette
Chevrolet Corvette
The Chevrolet Corvette is a sports car by the Chevrolet division of General Motors that has been produced in six generations. The first model, a convertible, was designed by Harley Earl and introduced at the GM Motorama in 1953 as a concept show car. Myron Scott is credited for naming the car after...
chief engineer for General Motors
General Motors
General Motors Company , commonly known as GM, formerly incorporated as General Motors Corporation, is an American multinational automotive corporation headquartered in Detroit, Michigan and the world's second-largest automaker in 2010...
.
The ULTRA concept had its vehicle genesis on the US Army TARDEC COMBATT Program, sponsored by the National Automotive Center. This program explored the use of commercial vehicle platforms as a fundamental building block of more rugged military vehicles. Michael Dudzik (GTRI) and David McLellan were principals in the early transition of the COMBATT achievements to the ULTRA platform. ULTRA was able to build upon the COMBATT results and explore revolutionary designs in the integration of armor and chassis systems for increased survivability.
Ultra II
The Georgia Tech Research Institute continued work on the project, eventually releasing the ULTRA II concept, also designed and tested for the Office of Naval ResearchOffice of Naval Research
The Office of Naval Research , headquartered in Arlington, Virginia , is the office within the United States Department of the Navy that coordinates, executes, and promotes the science and technology programs of the U.S...
. The new crew-protection concept builds on the earlier GTRI research on concepts for light armored vehicles. A blast test conducted with the Ultra II at the Aberdeen Test Center showed that the vehicle could protect its occupants from improvised explosive device
Improvised explosive device
An improvised explosive device , also known as a roadside bomb, is a homemade bomb constructed and deployed in ways other than in conventional military action...
s.
Features
The crew compartment was designed to fit six people: a driver and commander, facing forward, and two pairs behind them facing opposite sides of the vehicle. This design focuses on moving the crew away from external walls to reduce injury from side blasts, allows the blast-resistant seats to be frame-mounted, and reduces the time it takes to exit the vehicle. The crew compartment uses a "space frame" constructed from tubular steel, similar to the construction of off-road vehicleOff-road vehicle
An off-road vehicle is considered to be any type of vehicle which is capable of driving on and off paved or gravel surface. It is generally characterized by having large tires with deep, open treads, a flexible suspension, or even caterpillar tracks...
s, especially those involved in off-road racing
Off-road racing
Off-road racing is a format of racing where various classes of specially modified vehicles compete in races through off-road environments.-North America:...
, and an armored steel skin provides structure and blast protection
Explosion protection
Explosion protection is used to protect all sorts of buildings and civil engineering infrastructure against internal and external explosions or deflagrations. It was widely believed until recently that a building subject to an explosive attack had a chance to remain standing only if it possessed...
. Additional armor
Composite armour
Composite armour is a type of vehicle armour consisting of layers of different material such as metals, plastics, ceramics or air. Most composite armour are lighter than their all-metal equivalent, but instead occupy a larger volume for the same resistance to penetration...
can be modularly bolted to the vehicle and easily reconfigured.
Another key focus of the project was the protection provided by a replaceable sacrificial "blast wedge" that is bolted to the bottom of the vehicle. Constructed from welded steel armor, it absorbs and deflects energy from a blast, acting as a crumple zone
Crumple zone
The crumple zone is a structural feature mainly of automobiles. Crumple zones have also been incorporated into railcars in recent years.They are designed to absorb the energy from the impact during an accident by controlled deformation. This energy is much higher than is commonly recognized...
.
See also
- GTRI Aerospace, Transportation and Advanced Systems LaboratoryGTRI Aerospace, Transportation and Advanced Systems LaboratoryThe Aerospace, Transportation and Advanced Systems Laboratory is one of eight labs in the Georgia Tech Research Institute. ATAS develops advanced systems concepts and performs research related to aerospace systems, power and energy systems, threat systems, intelligent autonomous systems, and...
- Desert Patrol VehicleDesert Patrol VehicleThe Desert Patrol Vehicle , formerly called the Fast Attack Vehicle , is a high-speed, lightly armored sandrail-like vehicle first used in combat during the Gulf War in 1991. Due to their dash speed and off-road mobility, the DPVs were used extensively during Operation Desert Storm. The first U.S...
- Plasan Sand CatPlasan Sand CatThe Sand Cat is a composite armored vehicle designed by Plasan of Israel. It is based on a commercial Ford F-Series chassis shortened to a 2.84 m wheelbase by Ford Qualified Vehicle Modifier, Manning Equipment of Louisville, Kentucky, United States...