8th ISTVS Americas Conference Presentation by Dr. Sally Shoop, US Army, Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory

1. 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

2. 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?

3. Everyone is Flying Drones!
a) Geophysical and remote sensing capabilities

4. High Resolution images are common place
a) Geophysical and remote sensing capabilities

5. b) Weather Modeling and Prediction
7 to 10 days out
now routine
High resolution

6. Real-time Traffic
c) Geospatial applications and real-time
mapping/tracking

7. Geospatial applications and real-time
mapping/tracking
Realtime mapping & tracking terrain properties
Moisture
conditions in
Maryland
Tracking Snow
Road Temperature
in Antarctica

8. Realtime mapping & tracking of terrain
properties
Arctic Sea Ice Conditions

9. Other Enabling Technologies
Computer power
Real-time controls
Adaptive suspensions & materials
Biocomputers
Chemical robots
etc.

10. 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

11. 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!

12. 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

13. 2. What aspects of the terrain and environment have the
largest impact on vehicle operations in extreme
environments?
c) Unknown and otherworldly surface conditions:

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

15. 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”