Midshipmen and 'Horns win AFRL competition

  • Published
  • By Michael P. Kleiman
  • 377th ABW/PA
For the seven universities participating in the sixth annual Air Force Research Laboratory Rapid Reaction Challenge, the rocky terrain covering the over six-mile course up a mountain on the far southeast boundary of Kirtland Air Force Base appeared daunt ing, but achievable for their entered demonstrations.

Only three colleges' devices made it to the top.

During the three separate challenges conducted from April 15-27, the U.S. Military Academy's "Exoskeleton," the U.S. Naval Academy's "Trailbreaker" and Texas A & M University's "Mountain Bike" crossed the finish line. Reaching the summit, however, served as only one judged portion of the competition, with other criteria, such as design engineering being evaluated. After the seven judges assessed all entries, the Navy's motorcyclelooking apparatus and the University of Texas at Austin's "Wagon" won the service academies' and "Lone Star" competitions, respectively.

From April 16-17, Prairie View A & M University's "Hiker Transport System," a creation similar in appearance to the Segway, a two wheeled electric vehicle, and Tennessee State University's device employing the dimensions of a standard piece of luggage with a wheel design using air pressure in pneumatic tires, broke down during their climb of the contest route. The Prairie View, Texas, team's device accomplished one third of the course, while their Nashville, Tenn., counterpar ts' traver sed two-thirds before breaking down.

Approximately nine days later, UT-Austin's demonstration, consisting of a 250-watt electric engine supported by two to four wheels, and Texas A & M University's two prototypes, a folding-frame structure based on a mountain bike, and a second bicycle, featuring two rear tires, ascended the steep, rough trail. Following two days of competition, the former triumphed over their in-state rivals from College Station.

Although Texas A & M's first device reached the summit, the judges nonetheless announced UT-Austin as the victor of the Lone Star challenge.

"For the four university teams, all showed very well, with UT-Austin winning, as their concept was able to offload substantial weight off of the operators, was forward-leaning in technology integration, and survived a substantial portion of the roughest terrain," said

John Gallette, AFRL competition manager, AFRL Headquarters, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio. "The Texas A&M team made it to the top with their primary entry, but it required substantial assistance from event operations personnel. The Prairie View A&M and Tennessee State University teams also had unique entries, but both encountered ground clearance, power and steering difficulties."

On April 18 and 19, the three service academies' devices attempted to conquer the bumpy and erratic staked path to the 8,000-footplus peak. With a futuristic appearance and walking gait, the Army's Exoskeleton and the Navy's Trailbreaker all-terrain vehicle with a 172-cc engine, succeeded on the steep and erratic road. Unfortunately, the Air Force Academy's DTV "Shredder," which held one individual standing atop a tank-like platform with a rear trailer, stopped at the two-thirds portion of the course.

"For the Service Academy Challenge, the USNA's concept of a Navy SEAL-based, two-wheel drive gas/electric motorcycle concept was able to traverse and summit the course and get into a special reconnaissance position with the best overall operational and engineering trade space," Gallete said. The USMA team also put on a strong show with their manned exoskeleton, which took longer to complete the course, but was able to assist in offloading much of the weight into the skeleton substructure. The USAFA team had a very forward-leaning design, which was futuristic, but experienced electro/ mechanical difficulties in the roughest of the boulder fields."

AFRL will take the best ideas from the eight entered devices to the field in an effort to enhance warfighter security.

"This year's Rapid Reaction Challenge was a realworld success, as the seven participating colleges addressed science and technology improvements for our warfighters, who have to carry massive backpack payloads into some of the roughest and most remote country on the planet. All of the teams demonstrated highly specialized prototype equipment, where the best of each of their unique ideas will be transitioned as quickly as possible to the warfighters," said Gallette. "I am also grateful that there were no injuries, and that we were able to execute this year's schedule despite the harsh weather. Finally, we had the best support I have ever experienced to date with the event from Team Kirtland and the 377th Air Base Wing."