FY24 BAA AMD 01.docx

U.S. ARMY COMBAT CAPABILITIES DEVELOPMENT COMMAND

GROUND VEHICLE SYSTEM CENTER

BROAD AGENCY ANNOUNCEMENT

W56HZV-24-A-0003

02 January 2024 – 31 December 2026

ISSUED BY:

U.S. Army Contracting Command Detroit, MI

DISTRIBUTION A. Approved for public release. OPSEC6865

Special Notes Solicitation has been updated 21 November 2024. Areas updated are listed below.

1. Closing date has changed from 02 January 2027 to 31 December 2026.

2. DEVCOM GVSC Topic/Interest Area 1 Ground Vehicle Materials Engineering section c. Welding iv added.

3. DEVCOM GVSC Topic/Interest Area 1 Ground Vehicle Materials Engineering section f. Advanced Manufacturing Technical Point of Contract changed.

4. DEVCOM GVSC Topic/Interest Area 1 Ground Vehicle Materials Engineering section i. Materials for Thermal Management description edited.

5. DEVCOM GVSC Topic/Interest Area 1 Ground Vehicle Materials Engineering i. Materials for Thermal Management section iv added.

6. DEVCOM GVSC Topic/Interest Area 1 Ground Vehicle Materials Engineering Topic l Integrated sample preparation added.

7. DEVCOM GVSC Topic/Interest Area 2 Ground Vehicle Power & Mobility Topic g. Hydrogen Technology ii paragraph removed. Paragraph iii is now ii.

8. DEVCOM GVSC Topic/Interest Area 5 Ground Vehicle Robotics Topic added.

1. Formatting of the Announcement

The following table provides an overview of the outline structure of this announcement:

I.

A.

1.

a.

i.

(1)

(a)

(i)

TABLE OF CONTENTS

4. GROUND VEHICLE SURVIVABILITY & PROTECTION (GVSP)

I. OVERVIEW OF THE FUNDING OPPORTUNITY

The U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command (DEVCOM) Ground Vehicle Systems Center (GVSC), located in Warren, MI, is the United States Armed Forces’ research and development facility for technology development in ground systems. Current technology focus areas include Power and Mobility, Autonomous Systems, Force Projection, Survivability, Electronics and Architecture, Cyber Engineering and Software Integration. GVSC Mission is to develop, integrate, demonstrate, and sustain ground vehicle systems capabilities to support Army modernization priorities and improve readiness.

GVSC provides the warfighter with enhanced capabilities and ensures readiness by maximizing the research, development, prototyping, transition, and sustainment of technologies, and technology integration across ground systems. GVSC provides engineering support for more than 2,800 Army systems, and many DoD/Army high-priority joint development programs. GVSC provides world-class engineering across the acquisition life-cycle and develops and experiments with the new technologies needed to ensure US Army ground dominance as part of the Multi-Domain Operations MDO construct. In the near future, GVSC aims to develop systems that are resistive to immediate obsolescence and overmatch. GVSC will invest in the technologies, competencies, and organic infrastructure that will achieve the exponential capability offset that will guarantee future dominance in the ground domain.

The GVSC Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) seeks proposals from institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations, state and local governments, foreign organizations, foreign public entities, and for-profit organizations (i.e. large and small businesses) for research based on the following Science & Technology (S&T) campaigns: Power and Mobility, Autonomous Systems, Force Projection, Survivability, Electronics and Architecture, Cyber Engineering and Software Integration. Further details are described in the GVSC Strategy. These documents are subject to periodic refinements which may result in taxonomy inconsistencies. These inconsistencies should not affect the efficacy of the BAA to present a complete portfolio of GVSC research.

Proposals are sought for cutting-edge innovative research that could produce discoveries with a significant impact to enable new and improved Army technologies and related operational capabilities and related technologies along with development and demonstration of innovative technologies which enable modernized capabilities aligned with Army priorities. The specific research areas and topics of interest described in this document should be viewed as suggestive, rather than limiting. Prospective applicants contemplating submission of a whitepaper or proposal are strongly encouraged to contact the appropriate Technical Point of Contact (TPOC). The TPOCs’ names and email addresses are listed immediately after each research area of interest. If requested by the TPOC, a whitepaper should be prepared in accordance with the instructions contained in this BAA. Upon receipt, a whitepaper will be evaluated and the applicant will be advised of the results. Applicants whose whitepapers receive a favorable evaluation may be encouraged to prepare a proposal in accordance with instructions contained in this BAA. The costs of whitepapers and/or proposals in response to this BAA are not considered an allowable expense to the normal bid and proposal indirect costs specified in FAR 31.205-18. Proposals may be submitted at any time during the announcement period.

In accordance with federal statutes, regulations, and Department of Defense (DoD) and Army policies, no person on grounds of race, color, age, sex, national origin, or disability shall be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving financial assistance from the Army.

Applicants submitting proposals are cautioned that only a Contracting or Grants Officer can obligate the Government to any legal instrument involving expenditure of Government funds.

All administrative inquiries regarding this BAA shall be submitted via email to:

usarmy.detroit.devcom-gvsc.mbx.amo@army.mil. Scientific and technical questions should be referred to the TPOCs shown following each research area of interest. Interested parties are encouraged to periodically check www.sam.gov.website for updates and amendments to this announcement.

Michael K. Cadieux, Director U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command, Ground Vehicle Systems Center

(End of Section)

A. Required Overview Content

1. Agency Name:

Ground Vehicle Systems Center (GVSC)

Issuing Acquisition Office:

U.S. Army Contracting Command- Detroit Arsenal (ACC-DTA)

2. Research Opportunity Title:

GVSC Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) 02 January 2024– 31 December 2026

3. Sam.gov Assistance Listing (formerly Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number and Title):

12.431 – Basic Scientific Research

4. Response Dates:

This BAA is a continuously open announcement valid throughout the period from the date of issuance through 31 December 2026 unless announced otherwise.

B. Additional Overview Information

This BAA sets forth research areas of interest to the GVSC. This BAA is issued under paragraph 6.102(d)(2) of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), which provides for the competitive selection of basic and applied research proposals, and 10 U.S.C. 4001, 10 U.S.C. 4021 and 10 U.S.C. 4022 which provide the authorities for issuing awards under this announcement for basic and applied research. The definitions of basic and applied research may be found at 32 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 22.105.

Proposals submitted in response to this BAA and selected for award are considered to be the result of full and open competition and in full compliance with the provisions of 10 USC 3201 – Full and Open Competition and subsequent amendments.

The DoD agencies involved in this program reserve the right to select for award all, some, or none of the proposals submitted in response to this announcement. Due to Government budget uncertainties, no specific dollars have been reserved for awards under this BAA. The participating DoD agencies will provide no funding for direct reimbursement of whitepaper or proposal development costs.

Whitepapers and technical and cost proposals (or any other material) submitted in response to this BAA will not be returned to the applicant. Unless noted in an applicant's proposal to the contrary, unsuccessful proposals will be retained for six (6) months from declination and then properly destroyed. It is the policy of participating DoD agencies to treat all proposals as sensitive, competitive information and to disclose their contents only for the purposes of evaluation.

An applicant may withdraw a proposal at any time before award by written notice or by email sent to the Government point of contact identified in Section G of this BAA.

II. DETAILED INFORMATION ABOUT THE FUNDING OPPORTUNITY

A. Program Description: The U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Ground Vehicle Systems Center (DEVCOM GVSC) is the Army’s Center for developing advanced military ground vehicle technologies and systems engineering and integration expertise that delivers unmatched ground vehicle solutions in:

· Power and Mobility.

· Autonomous Systems.

· Force Projection.

· Survivability.

· Electronics and Architecture.

· Cyber Engineering.

· Software Integration.

DEVCOM GVSC TOPIC/INTEREST AREAS:

1. GROUND VEHICLE MATERIALS ENGINEERING (GVME) is responsible for providing materials technology and engineering support to ground systems from cradle to grave to enhance warfighter readiness. The use of evolutionary materials and conventional manufacturing methods by combat vehicle manufacturers results in heavy vehicles limiting mobility and transportability frequently with extended manufacturing timelines. GVME uses in-house laboratories and technical expertise to support legacy and future ground vehicle in the areas of advanced manufacturing, coatings and corrosion, vehicle structural materials, joining, characterization and failure analysis, and process-aware design optimization.

GVME is interested in technologies that can improve the durability, manufacturability, or transportability of Army ground vehicles while maintaining survivability and lethality. Technologies that touch more than one Army ground vehicle platform, both next generation and legacy, are important to the Army. Novel solutions for initial manufacturing through end-of-life are relevant to this topic area.

Additive and Advanced Manufacturing are not synonymous. Definitions are as follows:

Additive Manufacturing. The process of joining materials to make parts from 3D model data, usually layer upon layer, as opposed to subtractive manufacturing and formative manufacturing methodologies.

Advanced Manufacturing. Advanced manufacturing refers to activities that depend on the use and coordination of information, automation, computation, software, sensing, and networking, and/or make use of cutting-edge materials and emerging capabilities enabled by the physical and biological sciences. It encompasses new ways to manufacture existing products and the manufacturing of new products resulting from advances in technology. It includes, but is not limited to, additive manufacturing (also known as three-dimensional (3D) printing), artificial intelligence, robotics, and advanced composite materials.

a. Structural Metallic Materials: Materials relevant to ground vehicle structures, which must withstand extreme loads and have extended anticipated service life cycles. Topics include:

i. Novel alloys for conventional manufacturing methods such as casting and forging.

ii. Modeling for conventional processing of metals

iii. Processing methods to improve properties such as weldability, cracking resistance, toughness, fatigue life, and strength.

iv. Optimization of structures for weight reduction via conventional manufacturing.

Technical Point of Contact: Katherine Sebeck, katherine.m.sebeck.civ@army.mil

b. Structural Composite Materials: The structural composite materials topic area focuses on applied research and development to support the integration of lightweight structural composite materials into military ground vehicles. Technologies developed in this program will have a significant impact on reducing the weight of military ground vehicles, thus improving mobility, durability, and life-cycle costs. Topics under this program will increase the integration of lightweight composite materials technologies into tactical and combat vehicles by reducing barriers to transition, such as: raw material and manufacturing process costs, repair challenges, and lack of accurate computational modeling tools for fiber-reinforced composite materials. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to:

i. Novel approaches to affordable composite materials manufacturing.

ii. Design optimization of fiber-reinforced composites.

iii. Three-dimensional reinforced composite materials.

iv. Characterization techniques for thick composite laminates.

v. Repair techniques.

vi. Computational modeling methods.

Technical Point of Contact: Robert Hart, robert.j.hart113.civ@army.mil

c. Welding: The welding topic area focuses on the ability to manufacture vehicles with new structural materials and join high strength and/or dissimilar materials to enable optimized designs for military applications. Materials for application include both metallic and welding: composite materials used for structural or armor solutions. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to:

i. Fusion based joining technologies (i.e., gas metal arc welding, gas tungsten arc welding).

ii. Solid phase joining technologies (i.e., friction stir welding, diffusion bonding, linear friction welding).

iii. Hybrid joining solutions to include a combination of any joining processes not limited to just welding but must be included.

iv. Consumable development for welding applications, including solid wire, metal core wire, flux core wires and others

Technical Point of Contact: Martin McDonnell, martin.m.mcdonnell3.civ@army.mil

d. Adhesives: The ability to join a wide variety of materials and dissimilar materials via additional layers to enable high performance designs in Army ground vehicle systems with challenges (including, but not limited to, reversibility, high strain rate performance, durability, strength and ability to predictively model the process). Topics of interest include, but are not limited to:

i. Ability to join dissimilar metals with good strength at high strain rates.

ii. Adhesive joint design optimization through modeling and testing.

iii. Improve application characteristics.

iv. Widen scope of adhesive applications for military vehicles.

v. Improve various adhesives for a variety of characteristics

Technical Point of Contact: Trevor Langton, trevor.c.langton.ctr@army.mil

e. Fasteners: Mechanical methods for joining materials for Army ground vehicle systems, including, but not limited to bolts, rivets, screws and pins. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to:

i. Evaluating changes in torque and clamping force of fasteners in different materials and coatings.

ii. Development of test methods and specifications for weld nut push out testing.

iii. Ultrasonic test methods for bolts for critical or safety applications.

Technical Point of Contact: Greg Martinez, gregorio.martinez35.ctr@army.mil

f. Advanced Manufacturing: The advanced manufacturing topic area focuses on application, integration and adoption of manufacturing technology that realizes additional value over traditional methods. Examples of value provided can include design optimization for performance or weight reduction, manufacturing time, supply chain improvements, new design capability, reduction of scrap material, improvement to prototyping and design cycle, manufacturing cost, combination of parts, and part customization. Topics of specific interest include, but are not limited to:

i. In situ process monitoring & controls.

ii. Inspection methods for complex geometries.

iii. Design optimization software and technology.

iv. Solid state additive manufacturing processes.

v. Alloys specifically for additive and advanced manufacturing processes.

vi. Process qualification.

Technical Point of Contact: Michael Nikodinovski, michael.nikodinovski.civ@army.mil

g. High Strain Rate Characterization: Alternative models and test methods for coupon and component level characterization of materials at a strain rates greater than 500s-1. Detailed topics include:

i. Subscale test methods for high strain rate.

ii. Novel methods for monitoring strain at elevated rates, including imaging- based methods.

iii. Biaxial or shear loading methods for high strain rate characterization.

iv. Automated fitting methods for strain rate sensitive constitutive models.

Technical POC: Katherine Sebeck, katherine.m.sebeck.civ@army.mil

h. High Throughput Characterization: Techniques for rapid or automated characterization of novel materials or material processing, including:

i. Subscale test methods for impact toughness, tensile properties.

ii. Methods for rapid or automated sample preparation.

iii. Biaxial or shear loading methods for high throughput characterization.

Technical Point of Contact: Katherine Sebeck, katherine.m.sebeck.civ@army.mil

i. Materials for Thermal Management: Novel materials for high temperature engine applications, materials and/or heat management for components such as electronics, batteries: materials and coatings for high voltage applications Topics include:

i. High strength material with elevated temperature oxidation resistance.

ii. Coatings for improved oxidation resistance at elevated temperatures and high stresses.

iii. Durable materials for passive heat exchangers.

iv. Durable coatings for electrical contacts.

Technical POC: Katherine Sebeck, katherine.m.sebeck.civ@army.mil

j. Feedstock Development for Advanced Manufacturing: The feedstock development topic focuses on materials and processes needed for the development of high strength feed stock that will improve availability, manufacturability, and/or durability of components and vehicles. The product form of the feed stock material can be in powder, wire or bar. Topics include:

i. Metallic, Polymeric, and Composite Materials feed stocks.

ii. Processing of materials to obtain final product form.

iii. Pre and Post heat treatment development needed to obtain final high strength properties.

iv. In situ secondary processing of feed stock materials.

Technical Point of Contact: Demetrios A. Tzelepis, demetrios.a.tzelepis.civ@army.mil

k. Machine Learning for Manufacturing: The machine learning for manufacturing topic focuses on optimization of manufacturing processes through development of cutting-edge analytical, computational, and experimental approaches to advance manufacturing processes. The goal is to reduce the cognitive burden on humans and improve manufacturing performance within the Army through human-machine teaming. Machine learning research is needed for manufacturing processes such as:

i. Joining technologies.

ii. Additive manufacturing.

iii. Subtractive manufacturing.

Technical Point of Contact: Martin McDonnell, martin.m.mcdonnell3.civ@army.mil

l. Integrated sample preparation: A smart, optionally automated system that can mill, grind, polish, and laser mark samples for tensile, fatigue, and impact testing of metals in an integrated and compact footprint.

1. High-precision milling for preparing metal samples with exact dimensions and surface requirements.

1. Automated or semi-automated equipment for surface preparation, capable of achieving smooth finishes necessary for testing.

1. Integrated laser marking system for permanent sample identification.

1. All equipment must fit within a small footprint, ensuring efficient use of laboratory space and integration of processes.

Technical Point of Contact: Michael Foley, michael.j.foley7.civ@army.mi

2. GROUND VEHICLE POWER & MOBILITY (GVPM) GVPM is responsible for everything needed to power and move the Army’s ground systems. GVPM uses its unique in-house laboratories and subject matter expertise to serve as the Army’s technical authority in the following areas:

· Engines, Transmission, Powertrain Cooling, Embedded Controls and Powertrain Integration.

· Tires, Track and Suspension Systems.

· Vehicle Electrification, Energy Storage Systems, and Fuel Cell Technology.

· Test & Evaluation of Individual Powertrain Components, Integrated Propulsion Systems, Cooling Systems, Energy Storage, Fuel Cells, and Electrification Components.

Tracked and Suspension: Identify, develop, evaluate, and field emerging technologies for track and suspension systems.

a. Track Impact on Vibration: Determine analytically the effects of track and suspension design that has the largest impact to vehicle vibration. Potential outcomes:

i. Improved track design requirements to ensure track design doesn’t negatively impact the soldier effectiveness from vibration and improve electronic capability.

ii. Isolation down to one (1) or two (2) of the key track variables that make the largest impact on vehicle vibration.

iii. Assessment of how single track variables impact vehicle vibration such as pitch length, rubber stiffnesses, rubberized vs non-rubberized wheels, suspension spacing (equal and unequal)

Technical Point of Contact: Craig Schmehl, craig.w.schmehl.civ@army.mil

b. Track Throw: Research and determine technology and sensors that can be embedded into track components (idler wheel, road wheel, idler arm, track, suspension, vehicle, etc.) to determine when track is about to be thrown with software and custom algorithms. Potential outcomes:

i. Inform drivers of robotic tracked vehicles when vehicle is being driven too fast or turning too hard to prevent immobilizing vehicle out in the field.

ii. Physically control the vehicle by limiting mobility when limits are reached.

Technical Point of Contact: Craig Schmehl, craig.w.schmehl.civ@army.mil

c. Track Vehicle Road Wheel Force Transducer: Collect accurate forces and moments at suspension and idler wheel spindles while a vehicle is driven over Army test courses. Potential outcomes:

i. Improved component designs for road wheel, track, idler wheel, idler arm, and suspension.

ii. Improved dynamic analytical models with accurate data for validation.

iii. Potential use as a sensor that feeds data to reduce track throw.

iv. Potential use as a sensor to determine track, suspension, and road wheel remaining life for reduced logistical burden and reduced maintenance down time.

Technical Point of Contact: Craig Schmehl, craig.w.schmehl.civ@army.mil

d. Tracked Vehicle External Strut Conversion: Develop a spring/damper strut to be used for converting 40–50-ton internal suspension system into external suspension systems for tracked vehicles. Potential outcomes:

i. Gain in internal hull volume in existing vehicle.

ii. Increased suspension adjustment capability for varying vehicle weights and axle loads

iii. Determination of the most economical manufacturing method to convert the existing hull to accept an external spring/damper strut based suspension.

Technical Point of Contact: Joel Litchfield, joel.a.litchfield2.civ@army.mil

e. Active Track Tensioner: Design a track tensioning system that can keep constant track tension dynamically while a vehicle moves thru various terrains. Potential outcomes:

i. Improved track durability by limiting pressure spikes within the tensioner/track adjusting link (TAL) with rocks and debris.

ii. Allow adjustment of track tension when used with a hydro pneumatic suspension system to compensate for height changes and track tension changes that occur from gas charge heating and cooling.

iii. Allows track adjustment to improve off-road mobility or vehicle height changes while on the move.

Technical Point of Contact: Craig Schmehl, craig.w.schmehl.civ@army.mil

Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Research: Pursue non-primary power technology research, development, component testing and evaluation for the current and future manned ground vehicle fleet and unmanned ground vehicle fleet.

f. Fuel Cell Technology:

i. Hydrogen based fuel cells and supporting systems: Seeking fuel cells that operate off compressed hydrogen gas, from power levels including 300W to 1MW. Integration of fuel cells into developmental vehicles in order to conduct assessments for learning purposes. Supporting balance of plant hardware development for performance improvements. Innovative ideas on using hydrogen fuel cells for military applications, which include extreme temperature and humidity variations, shock and vibration challenges, and connecting to a vehicle electrical system, which can include the Army’s 600V standard.

ii. Liquid and gas hydrocarbon fuel-based fuel cells and supporting systems: Seeking fuel reformation and fuel cell systems that can operate of MIL- SPEC JP-8 fuel, as well as a host of other hydrocarbon and sustainable fuels. Integration of these systems into developmental vehicles in order to conduct assessments for learning purposes. Supporting balance of plant hardware development for performance improvements. Innovative ideas on using hydrocarbon-based fuel cells for military applications, which include extreme temperature and humidity variations, shock and vibration challenges, and connecting to vehicle electrical system, which can include the Army’s 600V standard.

iii. Other fuel-based fuel cells and supporting systems: Seeking fuel cell technologies that operate off other fuel sources other than described above. Integration of these systems into developmental vehicles in order to conduct assessments for learning purposes. Supporting balance of plant hardware development for performance improvements. Innovative ideas on using other fuel based fuel cells for military applications, which include extreme temperature and humidity variations, shock and vibration challenges, and connecting to a vehicle electrical system, which can include the Army’s 600V standard.

Technical Point of Contact: Kevin Centeck, kevin.s.centeck.civ@army.mil

g. Hydrogen Technology:

i. Hydrogen storage and supporting systems: Seeking storage of hydrogen onboard a vehicle as well as large-scale mobile hydrogen storage suitable for logistics support (gas, liquid, or in solid form). Also seeking hydrogen storage at an installation level, suitable to meeting resilience requirements for the Army.

ii. Hydrogen Technology: Seeking technologies like liquid organic hydrogen carriers (LOHC), hydrogen liquefaction, compressed hydrogen storage development, cryo-compressed hydrogen storage and delivery, and the supporting systems and hardware that enable these technologies.

Technical Point of Contact: Kevin Centeck, kevin.s.centeck.civ@army.mil

Powertrain Electrification: Investigate, test, and develop advanced propulsion components to achieve improved system efficiency including electric and hybrid electric, and other non-conventional propulsion architectures for manned and unmanned combat vehicles, wheeled, tracked, and other alternative forms of mobility.

h. Next Generation Advanced Power Dense Wide Band Gap Switching Devices: Next generation switching devices with a >4x increase in power density are needed to further improve inverter and converter power density. This improved power density will enable inverters being mounted to electric sprocket drives and generators. Mounting inverters and controllers at their source/load eliminates bulky power wiring between devices. The resulting devices have the potential to provide (open-up) 10+ cubic feet for ammo, fuel, soldiers, or enable shorter/lighter platforms.

Technical Point of Contact: Alec Soles - alexander.m.soles.civ@army.mil

i. Next Generation Advanced Inverter: VNext generation inverter with a >4x increase in power density is needed to further improve inverter and converter power density. This improved inverter power density will enable mounting to electric sprocket drives and generators. Mounting inverters at their source/load eliminates bulky power wiring between devices. The resulting devices have the potential to provide (open-up) 10+ cubic feet for ammo, fuel, soldiers, or enable shorter/lighter platforms.

Technical Point of Contact: Alec Soles alexander.m.soles.civ@army.mil

j. Next Generation Power Dense Electric Sprocket Drives and Generators: The Army is interested in significantly increasing the power density of electric sprocket drives and generators. Improved power density will enable reducing under-armor packaging and potentially moving the drive outboard have multiple drives per trackside. External mounting of the drives potentially provides (opens-up) 10+ cubic feet for ammo, fuel, soldiers, or enable shorter/lighter platforms.

Technical Point of Contact: Maroune El-Hosni, maroune.d.el-hosni.civ@army.mil

k. Rare-Earth Magnet Free Electric Sprocket Drives and Generators: Rare- earth magnet free power dense motor and generator architectures are sought. Adversaries of the Army control most of the world's supply of rare earth magnets. It is highly preferable that the rotating equipment leverage conventional inverter topologies for power control. The new designs should maintain or improve upon current rotating equipment efficiency.

Technical Point of Contact: Maroune El-Hosni, maroune.d.el-hosni.civ@army.mil

Energy Storage: Conduct advanced research, development, and testing of future energy storage technologies to support the future force while supporting the current force on fielded systems with a lead acid emphasis.

l. Advanced Energy Storage Technologies for Army Vehicle Applications: The Advanced Energy Storage area focuses on developing cell and battery technologies to develop scalable/modular high energy density energy storage systems for Army vehicle applications including extended silent operations, hybrid powertrains and electrified systems. Battery research is focused on developing new approaches for high voltage systems, high temperature operation, extended cycle life and improved survivability for operation in specific military environments and applications. Development of technologies that will improve battery safety under ballistic and abuse conditions as well as advanced thermal management technology and approaches are also being sought. Finally, advanced manufacturing processes and systems to enhance battery reliability, safety and cost effectiveness are of interest to the Army. Specific technologies of interest include:

i. Rechargeable Li (Li-Ion) Batteries: Research in electrode and electrolyte materials for cells and stacks of cells using liquid or polymeric electrolytes capable of providing, at the packaged cell level, specific energies greater than 250 Wh/kg, specific power greater than 50 W/kg continuous, and greater than 10 kW/kg pulse power over the full military temperature range. The development of manufacturing technology and/or improved safety for these technologies is also an area of interest.

ii. Advanced battery chemistries capable of achieving at a packaged cell level of over 450 Whr/kg while maintaining a cycle life of at least 500 cycles to a 100% depth of discharge. Investigation in lithium metal rechargeable batteries including Li solid state, Li-S and Li-Air as well as development of new cathodes and electrolytes for rechargeable lithium batteries that reduce or eliminate dendrite formation.

iii. Innovative approaches to improve overall high voltage battery system modularity, thermal management, safety, control and system level fast recharge for vehicle applications are of interest to the Army.

iv. In support of future all-electric combat vehicles, technologies and systems capable of generating up to 15MW of electrical power in an austere environment is of interest. In support of this capability, technologies to enable short-range wireless power transfer of 1.5MW+ is also of interest.

Technical Points of Contact: Laurence Toomey, laurence.m.toomey2.civ@army.mil; David Skalny, david.a.skalny.civ@army.mil

Powertrain: Identify, develop, evaluate, and integrate next generation, power dense propulsion technologies for combat & tactical vehicles.

m. Tracked Vehicle Series Hybrid Propulsion for Light-to-Medium Combat Vehicles: Design the electrical and mechanical drive components for a Light-to- Medium Combat series hybrid propulsion system:

i. Improve energy utilization in series hybrid drive propulsion from energy source to the sprocket, as well as energy transfer between sprockets during steering.

ii. Improve high-speed maneuverability of series hybrid tracked vehicles.

iii. Improve vehicle mobility performance and capability for electric-drive tracked combat vehicles.

iv. Increase operating temperature environment and reduce SWAP-C impact of series hybrid drive components.

Technical Points of Contact: Tony Combi, anthony.j.combi.civ@army.mil; Michael Claus, michael.d.claus.civ@army.mil

n. Electric Turbocharger for Improved Engine Efficiency within Combat and Tactical Applications: Research, design and develop an electric turbocharger for engine applications to provide instantaneous power & torque response while increasing engine efficiency:

i. Provide a compact turbo charger with an integrated electric motor operating at elevated temperatures with the addition of energy recuperation to provide a positive effect of battery charging, with the benefit of harvesting waste exhaust energy.

ii. Allows for increase engine performance without any power or torque loss common in diesel engines.

iii. Improved air handling offering high power output to enable vehicle performance and fuel efficiency as vehicle weights increase.

Technical Point of Contact: Gus Panagos, constantine.panagos.civ@army.mil

o. Electrified Tracked Transmission Propulsion System for Combat Vehicles: Develop and design a novel, electrified cross-drive transmission offering an improved propulsion system for combat vehicles that enable high electrical power capability to vehicle systems:

i. Compact, high efficient multi-speed cross-drive transmission with an integration of an electrical generator/motor to provide silent drive and onboard electrical power.

ii. Improve energy utilization in combat vehicle systems from energy source to the sprocket, by providing consistent power split of energy across propulsion and onboard electrical systems.

Technical Points of Contact: Tony Combi, anthony.j.combi.civ@army.mil ; Michael Claus, michael.d.claus.civ@army.mil

Real Time Control Systems: Research, develop, and transition electronic control solutions for Army ground vehicle powertrain components (engines, transmissions, hybrid electronics, etc.) using in-house developed Electronic Control Module (ECM) hardware, and application-specific software, to meet and exceed program requirements.

p. Common Transmission Software (CTS): Algorithm for the common transmission software (CTS) using the in-house already developed Army controller (neXtECU). The effort would have the RTCS group develop a common software controls scheme to control any of the combat transmissions (32 speed transmission, HMPT, or Allison 4/6 speed transmission) which will allow a common solution to all transmission controls to enable autonomous designs, eliminate adaptive kits, seamlessly transition from driver controls to autonomous mode, and enable Army-specific controls to support modifications to meet operational needs. This solution will provide additional functionality and lessen logistic footprint having a common controller to support all of the powertrains in the combat fleet. This will also enable a common solution to integrate a compact high efficient multi-speed cross-drive transmissions with a state of the art electrical generator/motor to provide silent drive and onboard electrical power while controlling all of the supervisory and transmission controls in a single controller.

Technical Point of Contact: Joe Stempnik, joseph.m.stempnik.civ@army.mil

3. GROUND VEHICLE ELECTRICAL POWER SYSTEM (GVEPS): The GVEPS campaign focuses on advancing electrical power systems up to 1.5MW of power for use on Military ground vehicles. The goal of this campaign is to meet the Army’s increasing electrical power needs while improving vehicle efficiency and the power density of power electronics. This will be made possible by exploiting the gains made in emerging power electronic designs and the use of cutting-edge electrical components. These advances will significantly impact future Army vehicle design and will enable the Army to have a decisive overmatch to near peer adversaries.

a. Power System Architecture up to 1.5MW: The objective of power system architecture topic under the GVEPS campaign is to investigate emerging architectures that are suitable for GVEPS up to 1.5MW of power. These architectures need to account for hybrid electric or all electric powertrains, high energy loads like cooling system, energy weapons, power export, and legacy 28Vdc/600Vdc power systems. There are three (3) key areas of investigation for this effort: 1) what safety features are needed to make the architecture a viable product; 2) is a voltage greater than 600Vdc needed; and 3) are electric components available at these voltage/power levels.

Technical Point of Contact: Jason Spina, 586-214-2751, jason.a.spina.civ@army.mil

b. Advance Power Electronic Design: This topic focuses on taking advantage of cutting-edge power electronic design to significantly increase power density and power efficiency which will result in smaller devices that require less cooling. This will significantly impact vehicle design as under armor volume is at a premium and traditionally power electronics are large and cumbersome to package. This topic includes, but is not limited to, advance designs such as wideband gap semiconductors, soft switch, zero-volt switching, zero-current switch, modular multi-level converter, active filtering, and all other techniques to meet the focus of increased power density and power efficiency.

Technical Point of Contact: Aric Haynes, 586-202-4190, aric.l.haynes.civ@army.mil

c. Artificial Intelligence or Machine Learning (AI/ML) in Power Management Systems: This topic focuses on advancement in power management systems for ground vehicles as power management will enable more efficient vehicles. This topic incorporates advancements in AI/ML algorithms and knowledge base to adapt to how the vehicle is being used and learn the most efficient way to operate the vehicle. This topic also has two (2) key enablers: 1) power system modeling; and 2) hardware in-the loop software development which are key in advancing AI/ML power system development.

Technical Point of Contact: Jason Spina, 586-214-2751, jason.a.spina.civ@army.mil

d. Wireless Power Transfer: This topic focuses on wireless power transfer up to 1MW of power as there are two (2) target areas for wireless power transfer on Army ground vehicles. The first focus area is vehicle level battery charging (as hybrid and all electric Army ground vehicles become a reality in the Army) a safe, reliable way to recharge the vehicles will be through wireless recharge stations. The second focus area is wireless power transfer to transfer power between a hull and turret. This can have a large impact on ground vehicle designs because the removal of power transfer from the slipring will allow that component to shrink or be able to do other important features like higher data transfer rates.

Technical Point of Contact: Aric Haynes, 586-202-4190, aric.l.haynes.civ@army.mil

e. Power System Physical Interfaces: Often when developing advance power electronics, the height and width of the design is dictated by the physical interface components, such as connectors, coolant fitting, and cabling. This topic focuses on the necessary advancement of interface components to reduce the physical size of the design. Also, these physical interface components often have very long lead times which can be problematic for procurement and integration, so advanced manufacturing approaches to reduce component lead time will also be explored under this topic.

Technical Point of Contact: Ed Schwartz, 586-571-5381, edward.c.schwartz2.civ@army.mil

4. GROUND VEHICLE SURVIVABILITY & PROTECTION (GVSP): GVSP is responsible for ground vehicle ballistic protection, blast mitigating technologies, and hit and kill avoidance initiatives for the Department of Defense. GVSP uses its unique in- house laboratories and subject matter expertise to reinforce its reputation as the Army’s technical authority on survivability in the following research areas:

· Ballistics and blast testing.

· Armor component fabrication and characterization.

· Dynamic impact/impulse testing.

· Vehicle crash and rollover assessment.

· Active protection testing.

· Laser and fire protection studies.

· Signature management

· Cooperative/Collaborative defense

· Survivability and Protection technology integration on ground platforms

a. Projectile Deceleration by Pulsing a Magnetic Field: High velocity projectiles pose threats to military personnel and vehicle platforms. Research has demonstrated that magnetic fields may be used to decelerate or redirect these projectiles. Advancing this applied research area to determine its effectiveness and applicability is desired. Research and development in this technical area could potentially significantly augment traditional survivability systems. The interaction of moving conductors with magnetic fields can yield substantial forces. The optimization of these forces, both in magnitude and direction, by the creation of either static or time varying magnetic fields is desired. The state-of-the-art, both now and in the projected future, for the capability of decelerating or redirecting incoming threats using magnetic fields is desired. The integration issues of placing such a “magnetic shield” onto a vehicle needs study. In addition, a magnetic field generation system may also provide a sensing capability, whereby the incoming conductor’s velocity/mass might be determined. This would provide information allowing the repulsive magnetic field to be optimally generated both in time and in space to deflect the incoming threat. Study of this composite approach, where the magnetic field system is used both for detecting the threat and dealing with it is needed.

Technical Points of Contact: Dr. Eric Polson, GVSP STE, erik.s.polsen.civ@army.mil; Joshua Peterson, AAD GVSP, Joshua.s.peterson14.civ@army.mil

b. Survivability Basic and Applied Research: This overarching topic will consider whitepapers and proposals that may or may not directly align to the current research and integration efforts being executed by GVSP, but are aligned to the overarching GVSP mission in one or more of the above areas. GVSP is always interested in innovative research whitepapers and proposals that demonstrate a strong alignment to its research and integration competencies, with the potential to transition into advanced technology development programs for both manned and unmanned ground platforms.

Technical Point of Contact: Dr. Erik Polsen, GVSP STE, 586-215-2387,erik.s.polsen.civ@army.mil

c. Improved Transparent Armor Materials, Manufacturing, and Integration: Current military transparent armor is laminated in an autoclave using commercial thermoplastic urethanes to combine multiple layers of transparent glasses and plastics into a single laminate. However, such configurations are susceptible to delamination in the field due to thermal cycling, UV, and water/chemical intrusion. Further, currently known material and design choices that can improve resistance to delamination have also been found to reduce ballistic efficiency of the armor. Therefore, there is interest in researching alternative materials, processes, and integration methods that could generate transparent armor configurations that are affordable and provide high resistance to delamination while maintaining ballistic efficiency.

Technical Point of Contact: Mr. Matthew Magner, GVSP Technical Specialist for Transparent Armor, 586-282-5725, matthew.j.magner.civ@army.mil

5. GROUND VEHICLE ROBOTICS (GVR): Ground Vehicle Robotics group is responsible for development, experimentation, demonstration and transition of autonomy enabled ground system capabilities and technologies to meet and shape Army requirements. GVR focus is in the following areas:

· Dismounted Systems and Robotic Autonomous Systems

· Safety Critical and Control Systems

· Project Convergence

· Technologies and Development

· Combat Support Robotics and Safety

· Robotics and Autonomous Software & Commonality

· Technology Transition and Integration

a. Autonomous Systems: Provide Autonomous Ground Vehicles (AGVs) with the ability to overmatch adversarial forces in terrains and severe conditions where current US combat vehicles cannot operate.

i. Provide new engineering techniques for designing conceptually advanced AGVs capable of functioning autonomously in tactical formations with warfighters on battlefield independent of terrain.

ii. Optimize methods for determining critical vehicle parameters and vehicle system characteristics inhibiting tactical performance

iii. Exploring the use of terramechanic methods, sensor models, system models, formation and use models and simulations and experimental systems and simulators for autonomous systems development.

iv. Research and develop areas such as robotic middleware and development environments, robotic data modeling and curation, perception and world model, autonomy behavior development and encapsulation, autonomy software development and maturation, autonomy mode manager and data collection systems, combat robotics and teaming, robotic combat vehicle development, autonomy integration and test, combat vehicle robotics technology development, and human-robot interaction development.

v. Perform design iterations and experimental research of vehicle systems and platforms through implementation of new vehicle transformative technologies

Technical Point of Contact: Dmitri Nguyen dmitri.t.nguyen.civ@army.mil

6. BRIDGING LIFECYCLE ENGINEERING (BLE): Bridging Lifecycle Engineering Team functions as an idea clearinghouse, identifying and maturing technologies to support TACOM Life Cycle Management Command (LCMC) Community, Condition Based Maintenance Plus (CBM+) Policy strategy and implementation for the Army’s military bridging systems.

a. Bridge Health Monitoring System: Multiple military bridges use a "fatigue monitor" inspection coupon, calibrated to crack before the bridge fails, to supplement visual inspections to evaluate the bridge’s current condition. The current process is inaccurate and unable to determine the bridge’s remaining service life before maintenance is required. Currently the Army mitigates readiness issues by posturing additional bridges for use.

BLE is seeking to capture technologies from industry for further development and engineering to determine the condition of military bridges, with an initial focus being placed on assault bridges such as the Heavy Assault Scissor Bridge. The proposed technology(s) would:

· Employ autonomous capabilities that comprehensively captures data for early anticipation of requirements to improve equipment availability and fleet readiness.

· Forecast or employ solutions that enable continuous operations without operational pause

·…