UK creator of high mobility vehicles, Supacat, is announcing the modernisation programme of its highly successful All Terrain Mobility Platform (ATMP) at DVD 2018. The original vehicle has been in service with the UK MOD, foreign militaries and other non-defence sectors since the early 80’s and remains the reliable, flexible and capable workhorse that it was designed to be. The vehicle is undergoing a modernisation programme to initially manage obsolescence issues whilst also supporting the future hybrid development and automisation of the platform.
The ATMP can carry a substantial payload of 1600kg which, combined with its “go anywhere” ethos, has made it the vehicle of choice for many years. Already proven on a variety of military and humanitarian operations in locations such as the Gulf, the Falklands, Bosnia, Kosovo, Canada, Malaysia and Afghanistan, the ATMP can be transported within or underslung below a range of air platforms providing instant mobility support for light forces on the ground.
The modernisation programme will involve updating the engine and drive train whilst also managing legislative requirements and Human-Machine Interface. It will also integrate a hybrid drive train into the platform. Supacat and the University of Exeter are working together as part of a Knowledge Transfer Partnership to develop the alternative drive solution, and have made good progress. Matthew Harvey of the University of Exeter comments, “The Knowledge Transfer Partnership is an exciting opportunity for us to use the latest academic research in industry to improve and modernise what is already a hugely successful vehicle. It is fantastic to work with a company like Supacat who have a huge wealth of experience and a really agile approach to engineering.”
The hybrid ATMP offers a number of benefits to the user. These include a reduced logistic burden, a silent running mode and a mobile battery charging platform. The hybrid ATMP will not compromise on the existing capability of the vehicle, aspiring to improve on what has been a timeless, hugely successful product. Supacat intends to fully autonomise the ATMP, developing the mule concept of follow on vehicles and opening up a number of capability options. A technical demonstrator with hybrid drive and novel fuel cells will be built in the first half on 2019.
A second KTP, starting in October 2019, will create an ‘optionally manned’ demonstrator, leveraging off the development of the hybrid demonstrator. This will incorporate elements of autonomous operation which will be of benefit to both defence and other users operating in dangerous or challenging environments.
Steve Austen, Engineering Director said, “This is an exciting time for Supacat as we seek to harness the rapid advances in hybrid propulsion and autonomous technologies made over the last few years to enhance the capabilities of our products and team for the benefit of our defence and non-defence customers.”