Master-Slave Vehicle Train for Mine Clearance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing military vehicle protection technologies are inadequate against diverse threats, particularly explosive traps and mines, and unmanned vehicles lack sufficient autonomy and practicality for military applications.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle train system comprising a manned master vehicle and one or more unmanned slave vehicles, connected by an electronic hitch for selective configuration as master or slave, allowing for adaptive operation based on threat levels, with the slave vehicle serving as a protective shield and enabling remote control or conventional operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If active protection systems (such as reactive armor or smoke generation) are used to protect vehicles against threats, then the protective capability is improved, but countermeasures can be developed to thwart these protective measures
Solution Approach 1:
The vehicle protection system is segmented into multiple independent vehicles (master vehicle and slave vehicles) forming a train configuration. This segmentation distributes the protection function across multiple units, making it harder for enemy countermeasures to affect the entire system. The slave vehicles can be positioned to provide mutual protection, and the system can reconfigure based on threat levels.
Solution Approach 2:
Slave vehicles serve as intermediaries between the master vehicle and external threats. They can be positioned in front of or behind the master vehicle to absorb or deflect threats, acting as a buffer that protects the main vehicle without requiring the master vehicle to directly counter the threat.
2Reliability
If unmanned vehicles are used to avoid putting personnel into threat scenarios, then personnel safety is improved, but the quality of autonomy is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The vehicle system is designed with multi-functionality, capable of operating in multiple modes: fully autonomous slave vehicle mode, remote-controlled mode, and manual operation mode. This universal design allows the system to adapt to different operational requirements and threat levels, overcoming the limitation of fixed automation levels in unmanned vehicles.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts its level of autonomy and control based on operational conditions. Slave vehicles can switch between autonomous operation, remote control from the master vehicle, and manual operation. This dynamic adaptability allows the system to maintain personnel safety while achieving sufficient autonomy quality through flexible control modes.
3Ease of operation
If a vehicle is configured as either master or slave with fixed functionality, then operational simplicity is improved, but the adaptability to different threat levels is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The vehicle train system dynamically reconfigures its master-slave relationships based on threat levels and operational requirements. Any vehicle in the train can potentially become a master vehicle, and the roles are not fixed. This dynamic role assignment allows the system to adapt to different threat scenarios while maintaining operational simplicity through standardized communication protocols and control mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
Each vehicle in the train is designed with universal capabilities to function as either a master or slave vehicle. The vehicles possess multi-functionality, including electronic hitch capabilities, communication systems, and control interfaces that work in both master and slave modes. This universal design enables flexible reconfiguration without complicating the basic operational principles.
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle train assembly including a first vehicle and at least one further vehicle in a loosely coupleable not-track-bound train where, in particular, a combination of a manned master vehicle and an unmanned slave vehicle is provided, wherein the order that the master vehicle is in, either in front of or behind the slave vehicle, can be selected. Both vehicle types (i.e., master, slave) can be without functional impact whether manned or unmanned. The technical equipment of the vehicle can be so provided that it is selectable which vehicle can be used as master vehicle or slave vehicle. The application is, however, not limited to mine search and clearance vehicles.