AFRL converts Mine Area Clearance Vehicle to remote operation

Published April 26, 2006
By Mindy Cooper
AFRL Materials and Manufacturing Directorate Public Affairs

TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- The Headquarters Air Combat Command Civil Engineer (HQ ACC/CE) expressed strong interest in being able to remotely employ a vehicle system and remove the man-in-the-seat during explosive ordnance clearance operations. The Hydrema 910 (Mine Clearance Vehicle) MCV-2 Flail System, hereafter referred to as the Mine Area Clearance Vehicle (MACV), was found to be a suitable vehicle for the task.

The MACV is a commercially available mine clearing system designed by Hydrema, a Danish commercial heavy equipment manufacturer. The vehicle is integrated into an articulated chassis so that all four wheels are in contact with the ground at all times. When being driven on roads the cab is to the front of the vehicle, however during mine clearing operations, the vehicle is driven in reverse with the cab to the rear. The vehicle is powered by two Perkins 1006-6TW six-cylinder turbocharged diesel engines. One is used for driving the vehicle and is coupled to a six-speed semi-automatic transmission. The second engine powers the mine clearing flails.

During mine clearing operations a separate hydrostatic transmission is used, which gives a continuously variable speed and considerable force. The complete flail system can be rapidly lowered into position at the rear of the vehicle and can clear a mine path 3.5 meters wide. During mine clearing, the vehicle can be manually operated from the cab using a joystick, or it can be remotely operated through the use of a computerized fully automatic pilot steering system. When being used in the latter configuration, the operator needs only to select a number of key parameters, for example depth, on the computer monitor. The depth control of the flail and the armored deflector plate, which is positioned to the immediate rear of the rotating flail, is then fully automated using sensors. The chains rotate clockwise if mines are buried, and anti-clockwise if they are on the surface. The flail assembly consists of a rotating axle with 72 chains attached; the end of each of these is fitted with a hammer type head which weighs 0.9kg.

ACC sought out the experts at the Air Force Research Laboratory/ Materials and Manufacturing Directorate (AFRL/ML) Airbase Technology Division Force Protection Branch, at Tyndall Air Force Base, FL, to integrate the remote control due to the branch’s recent successes with a number of robotic vehicles. The effort to install a remote control system was funded through HQ ACC/CE with cost sharing from the Joint Robotic Program.

The MACV was delivered to ML, where it was equipped with the remote system. The system, developed by the Advanced Robotics Team and the Joint Architecture for Unmanned Systems, is operated via radio frequency using an ML-developed joystick controller, a laptop computer, and an Operator Control Station that houses the Ethernet and power for the system. A high-end differential Global Positioning System was integrated, which allows the remote operator to more accurately control the vehicle and provides positioning feedback to ensure better accuracy. The Advanced Robotic Team engineers completed the programming and code work necessary to send and receive the required signals and messages.

Operating distance experiments were conducted in various environments; wide open areas and wooded areas, to determine the best radio and antenna combination to give the operators the best possible remote capability. Once ML was confident that they had the most robust system possible, explosive experiments were done to ensure the systems would withstand the shock of detonations with no degradation to the systems.

It was found that the remote operator can be up to a mile away, without any major obstructions between the antenna at the operators’ end and the MACV. For most operations they will probably be 2000 – 3000 feet away. The conversion took nine months.

The 823rd RED HORSE Squadron at Hurlburt Field, FL., was chosen as the pilot unit for this project. This squadron usually deploys with heavy construction equipment to austere locations. ML and ACC wanted to put the vehicle into the hands of the personnel who would be using it during regular deployment. This provides the squadron with experience operating the system.

ACC is working with Central Air Forces, the Air Component responsible for the U.S. Air Force contingent of Operation Enduring Freedom, to move the MACV to Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan in the future.