America's military fleet is on the road to improving performance and environmental quality due to new technology implemented through a partnership between Rochester Institute of Technology and Lockheed Martin Corp. The project is a component of a $150 million competitive contract with the U.S. Marine Corp Systems Command, won by Lockheed Martin, which is equipping 7,000 to 12,000 military vehicles with new systems monitoring technology that can better assess the "health" of vehicles in the field.
The work builds on more than a decade of research conducted by RIT's Center for Integrated Manufacturing Studies, a unit of the Golisano Institute for Sustainability, and the Office of Naval Research. The program was funded through the efforts and support of the Rochester area Congressional and US Senate delegations.
"RIT's world-class scientists have developed amazing technology that will really benefit our military," says U.S. Senator Charles Schumer. "I'm proud to have supported RIT's efforts, and it's gratifying to once again see their work move from the laboratory to the field."
The partnership has also led to the creation of a spin-off company, LIBAN Inc, located in the RIT business incubator Ventures Creations, which is now seeking to expand the use of software and hardware applications developed through the partnership for commercial vehicle fleets.
"This partnership is great news that further demonstrates how federal investments in our local universities create local jobs," adds Congresswoman Louise Slaughter. "I am proud to have helped secure funding for RIT so it could successfully compete for this work and provide our military with today's best technology."
The Lockheed Martin/Marine Corps contract will equip several key vehicle types, including the Amphibious Assault Vehicle and the Light Armored Vehicle, with embedded platform logistics systems, or EPLS, a network of sensors used to monitor vehicle health and alert commanders regarding necessary maintenance. These systems work similarly to Onstar and are designed to prevent potential breakdowns, increase energy efficiency and improve the safety of troops in the field.
RIT's role in the project involved developing the essential software and hardware used in the EPLS technology, and assisting Lockheed Martin in integrating these components into the overall system.
"Lockheed Martin was impressed with our previous work with the Office of Naval Research and decided to partner with RIT to develop their bid proposal for the project," notes Nabil Nasr, director of the Golisano Institute and associate provost at RIT. "Once Lockheed won the contract we partnered with them to create production versions of several of our previous hardware and software applications while also assisting in the development and testing of the EPLS system as a whole."
LIBAN will continue to provide production support to Lockheed and the Marine Corps for EPLS software and is currently working to develop commercial vehicle health management packages that could be used in a host of vehicle fleets from buses to heavy-duty trucks. Also, the technology developed through the project is now being utilized as part of a partnership between RIT and the Rochester Regional Genesee Transportation Authority to equip public transit buses with health monitoring technology.
"This project has allowed RIT to greatly expand the development of sustainable mobility technology and spin off a commercial enterprise that will enhance economic development in the Rochester region," says RIT President Bill Destler. "This is a perfect example of how partnerships between government, industry and academia can lead to significant benefits for all parties and the larger society as a whole."