Complex Terrain and Snow Modeling.Vehicle ‐ Terrain Interaction

Sally Shoop

US Army, Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory

ISTVS 8th Americas Regional Conference 2016

Detroit, Michigan

1. What are the major recent technological advances that will help us understand the terrain and environment with respect to off‐road and cross country vehicle operations?

Everyone is Flying Drones!

a) Geophysical and remote sensing capabilities

High Resolution images are common place

a) Geophysical and remote sensing capabilities

b) Weather Modeling and Prediction

7 to 10 days out now routine

High resolution

Real-time Traffic

c) Geospatial applications and real-time mapping/tracking

Geospatial applications and real-time mapping/tracking

Realtime mapping & tracking terrain properties

Moisture

conditions in

Maryland

Tracking Snow

Road Temperature

in Antarctica

Realtime mapping & tracking of terrain properties

Arctic Sea Ice Conditions

Other Enabling Technologies

Computer power

Real-time controls

Adaptive suspensions & materials

Biocomputers

Chemical robots

etc.

2. What aspects of the terrain and environment have the largest impact on vehicle operations in extreme

environments?

a) Poorly understood terrain:

We seldom operate in dry, sandy soil. We need better understanding of the physics in highly organic, wet soils

2. What aspects of the terrain and environment have the largest impact on vehicle operations in extreme

environments?

a) Poorly understood terrain mechanics:

We seldom operate in dry, sandy soil. We need better understanding of the physics in highly organic, wet soils, which are STRONGLY influenced by cold temperatures!

2. What aspects of the terrain and environment have the largest impact on vehicle operations in extreme

environments?

b) Unaccounted for, or harsh weather:

Freeze/thaw impacts

Polar regions storms

2. What aspects of the terrain and environment have the largest impact on vehicle operations in extreme

environments?

c) Unknown and otherworldly surface conditions:

3. What do you feel is the most significant advance needed in the field of terramechanics?

3. What do you feel is the most significant advance needed in the field of terramechanics?

Terrain mechanics characterization that:

a) applies to a wide range of scales

b) is easy to predict

c) easy to measure

d) able to be sensed remotely

e) accurate!!!

“Look deep into nature and you

will understand everything better”