The US Army's ground technology research and development center GVSC, is located in Warren, Michigan. Located in Warren, Michigan, GVSC serves as the United States Army's lead agency for autonomous and driver-optional ground vehicle robotics, as well as combat support technologies for next generation combat vehicles (NGCV).
U.S. GVSC has partnered with industry to increase vehicle modernization. It uses advanced engineering and materials in a collaborative, economies-of–scale environment. These industry-academic collaborations, based on a variety of mechanisms including formal contracts, Other Transaction Agreements and Cooperative Research and Development Agreements, have contributed to the continued progress of key ground vehicle technology platforms, as well as advancing the future of mobility for all military services.
Clemson’s VIPR–GS centre is partnering GVSC to complete a multiyear program to improve digital ground vehicle modeling and provide new simulation, engineering and engineering capabilities. This project supports GVSC’s ambitious goals in supporting rapid modernization U.S. Army fleets to meet the new operational demands in a rapidly changing environment.
GVSC leaders visited campus recently to discuss research achievements and innovative solutions that contribute to a quicker modernization of ground vehicle fleets. The review took place at the CU–ICAR innovation campus, Greenville, South Carolina. It involved a number of graduate students and faculty members who were engaged in VIPR–GS research projects. Many of these focused on the integration digital engineering tools into design to build processes to speed up ground vehicle modernization.
The GVSC team also reviewed Cyber Defense work, including a simulated bus defender intrusion defense and prevention system. This system aims to protect ground vehicles against attacks by hackers and malware using a combination driver-optional and automated security measures. This project has been underway since 2019 and will be operationally assessed during a September 2021 exercise at Yuma Proving Ground.
The Vehicle Systems Security program at GVSC helps to develop and test cyber defensive technologies that protect ground vehicles from a wide range of threats. These technologies include cybersecurity protection for mission systems, communications, and power systems.
The team is also looking for new ways of deploying and integrating sensors to ensure ground vehicle systems can be protected against cyberattacks, even when they are in highly contested areas. This is possible through a partnership with Peraton Labs (a cyber security firm based in San Jose).
The GVSC team has been working with the Army to ensure its future. They are also trying to reduce the environmental impacts of the current fleet of vehicles by reducing the amount of hexavalent chromium-plated components and cadmium plating. These toxic materials are dangerous and can not only corrode metals but also cause damage to the environment by leaking into the water and the air.
To address these issues, GVSC also works with the automotive sector through partnerships and cooperative agreements such as those with General Motors. This will allow for the development of an all-electric fleet military vehicles. These agreements seek to harness the technology advances made in the automotive field, which will enable rapid development of an all-electric military ground vehicle fleet.