U.S. Army: Virtual experiments helping shape Next-Generation Combat Vehicle

Thirty soldiers from the U.S. 4th Infantry Division recently tested new technologies in a video-game environment to provide feedback for the Next Generation Combat Vehicle Cross-Functional Team.

Vehicle Systems Center Virtual Experiment #3 last month to help inform the Next-Generation Combat Vehicle Cross-Functional Team's campaign of learning for Manned and Un-Manned Teaming. (Picture source: U.S. Army/Jeroma Aliotta)

"This latest experiment will provide us with an understanding of which technologies are most critical for the robotic combat vehicle to be successful in an operational environment," said Brig. Gen. Ross Coffman, NGCV CFT director. Coffman will be one of the speakers Oct. 14 at an NGCV Warriors Corner presentation at the Washington Convention Center where more about the experiments will be explained.

The soldiers from 4 ID's 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team supported the Army's Ground Vehicle Systems Center Virtual Experiment #3 last month to help inform the NGCV CFT's campaign of learning for manned and unmanned teaming. The campaign of learning is part of GVSC's virtual prototyping process that helps the Army test new technologies without soldiers needing to start up an engine or even set foot in the field -- saving valuable resources.

The soldiers provided feedback on vehicle crew configuration, formations, vehicle capabilities, enabling technologies -- such as unmanned aerial vehicles and aided target recognition -- and networked capabilities.

The experiment examined multiple questions including how Soldiers dealt with constraints such as signal degradation, lack of mobility while using certain features, task organization, and which variants of the vehicles proved the most useful. "One of the things we are looking at is if a lighter, less-protected RCV can achieve similar battlefield effect as a heavier but more protected one, while both having the same lethality package," Coffman said.

For the five-day virtual experiment, soldiers employed RCVs in open and urban terrain against a simulated near-peer adversary. Observations and data were collected as to how Soldiers use the RCVs and enabling technologies such as smoke generation, tethered unmanned aerial systems, target designator, and signal boost in offensive and defensive roles and in both open and urban environments. "RCVs were able to effectively designate targets and conduct target handoff with other RCVs which executed the target using Hellfire missiles," said an infantryman who participated in the experiment. [soldier names are withheld due to research protocol.]

These type of events will continue throughout the year with each virtual experiment increasing in capability and fidelity to support a live soldier experiment in March and April. The next virtual experiment will be conducted with support from the 1st Cavalry Division. Dec. 9-13. at the Detroit Arsenal.

"These soldier touch points are essential to how Army Futures Command is executing the Army's modernization priority," Coffman said. "Soldiers are at the center of everything we do, and their insight is crucial to developing these new technologies."