The Mechatronics program researches, develops, and exploits science and technologies at the intersection of the mechanical, control and electronic system domains to enhance the maneuverability and mobility of ground and amphibious manned and unmanned platforms. The program seeks to contribute to the technical body of knowledge and deliver advanced capabilities to the maneuver force by pursuing next-generation, leap-ahead, and transformational discoveries in academia, industry and government.
Mechatronics engages in efforts that afford advancements in mobility research areas to include intelligent mobility, powertrain efficiency and platform architecture. This is achieved through the conduct of basic, fundamental and applied research of advanced mobility technologies for application to unique military operational environments. Development and utilization of correlated physics-based virtual environments and modeling and simulations tools are leveraged throughout the concept creation, technology development and military utility assessment processes
Research Concentration Areas
- Cybernetics
- Efficient power generation
- Ground and amphibious manned and unmanned platform design
- Kinematics and dynamics
- Terra-mechanics
- Vehicle architectures
- Vehicle power electronics
- Vehicle power train and suspension
Research Challenges and Opportunities
- Accurate modeling and simulation of tire and ground surface interface dynamics
- Active chassis control for military off-road and amphibious applications
- Active dynamic effectors for military off-road and amphibious applications
- Electrical and hybrid locomotion for military off-road and amphibious applications
- Energy harvesting
- Flexible architectures of ground and amphibious platforms
- Power-dense powertrains
- Powertrain thermal management for ground systems
- Real-time, remote mobility planning intelligence
- Reliable, automated surface and subsurface terrain characterization
- Three-dimensional mobility in urban terrain
UPDATED: November 2020
How to Submit
For detailed application and submission information for this research topic, please refer to our broad agency announcement (BAA) No. N0001425SB001.
Contracts: All white papers and full proposals for contracts must be submitted through FedConnect; instructions are included in the BAA.
Grants: All white papers for grants must be submitted through FedConnect, and full proposals for grants must be submitted through grants.gov; instructions are included in the BAA.