Amphibious Combat Vehicle (ACV) Maneuver Improvements

The DON26BZ01-NV001 project aims to enhance the Amphibious Combat Vehicle's (ACV) water mobility and operator control during land-to-water transitions. The ACV, an adaptation of an Italian combat vehicle, has experienced negative impacts on its water mobility due to changes in weight and buoyancy. The objective is to improve the Human-Machine Interface and water propulsion hardware to reduce operator workload and improve maneuverability in water and surf zones. New designs should simplify controls, reduce cognitive load, and enhance responsiveness, while considering maintenance, corrosion control, water speed, bollard pull, and fuel economy. The propulsion device must fit within a 28x26x26 inch area and operate in shallow water with sand, mud, and small rocks. Phase I involves designing a new control system and concepts, using modeling and simulation, and potentially building a bench-top system. Phase II focuses on developing a functional prototype for lab testing, with an option to integrate a refined design into an actual ACV for validation. Phase III aims for dual-use applications, provisioning and cataloging the final design for ACV modification, and potential use in other military and commercial amphibious vehicles.