Concurrent Technologies Corporation (CTC) has been awarded a funded $13 million contract to help reduce the weight and improve survivability of U.S. Army Combat Vehicles by developing and applying advanced materials and manufacturing processes with the aid of machine learning.
The work is being done for the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command- Ground Vehicle Systems Center (GVSC) to address the issue of increasing combat vehicle weight as the result of weapons upgrades over the recent decades. Utilization of lighter-weight materials and advanced manufacturing processes brought forward through this project will allow for added performance and mission capability by enabling enhanced survivability at a lighter combat vehicle weight for the warfighter’s benefit.
This award is phase two of a three-phase effort that will result in a demonstration of lighter weight vehicles with improved survivability in support of future Army and Marine Corps vehicle acquisition programs. Phase one focused on evaluating the feasibility of applying advanced controls and machine learning to the friction stir welding (FSW) process. Phase two involves using machine learning algorithms to develop an advanced FSW machine with integrated advanced controls. The final phase will entail installing the advanced FSW machine and ancillary equipment at CTC’s Johnstown, PA, headquarters where a demonstration is planned to occur in support of Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) of the Next Generation of Combat Vehicles.
“This project will enable us to grow our leadership role in FSW technology advancements and support future technology transition,” said CTC Senior Director, Advanced Engineering and Manufacturing, Mike Pollock. “In addition to FSW, we are utilizing our company’s expertise in material characterization and machine learning to bring this technology to fruition for the benefit of the U.S. industrial base and ultimately implementing the solution for the benefit of the warfighter.”
CTC is working with industry partner PAR Systems, who is a leader in automation technology as well as a producer/supplier of custom FSW equipment. PAR Systems is leading efforts to identify and integrate advanced sensors/controls and automation related to FSW. CTC and PAR will work collaboratively with the U.S. Army GVSC to apply machine learning approaches to the FSW process and transition it to the construction of state-of-the-art combat vehicles.
“We are honored to continue this work, which will benefit our warfighters in a very direct way,” said CTC President and CEO Edward J. Sheehan, Jr. “Our engineering and machine learning experts are collaborating on this effort to make sure our military can fulfill their missions using the most optimized vehicles possible.”
SOURCE: GlobeNewswire