Innovative Partnership Enhances M5 Robotic Vehicle
Textron systems has joined forces with the Horstman group to elevate the capabilities of the M5 Robotic Vehicle – Medium (RV-M) by integrating the advanced HydroCore suspension system. This collaboration was unveiled during the Eurosatory 2022 event held in Paris.
Overview of the M5 RV-M
The M5 RV-M represents an unmanned evolution of Textron’s RIPSAW manned vehicle. Featuring a flat deck design, this robotic vehicle is engineered to accommodate a wide range of payloads for various missions, effectively keeping soldiers out of the most dangerous areas on the battlefield. as a hybrid-electric Unmanned Ground Vehicle (UGV), the M5 RV-M is optimized for near-silent operations, ensuring it maintains both power and agility.
introducing hydrocore Suspension
The HydroCore system, developed by the horstman Group, is touted as the first integrated hydropneumatic spring and damper solution created under the Horstman Scalable Mobility framework. This innovative strut enhances stability,ride comfort,and performance over various terrains.
Expert Insights on the Collaboration
David Phillips, Senior Vice President for Land and Sea Systems at Textron Systems, remarked, “The anticipated improvements in vehicle dynamics, efficiency, and maintenance from HydroCore will position the M5 RV-M as the leading high-performance UGV in its category for military applications.”
Ian Pain, CEO of the Horstman Group, added, “The launch of HydroCore at Eurosatory marks the culmination of over two years of dedicated research and progress. This product encapsulates the best practices and insights gained from 15 years of experience with Hydrostrut, semi-active, fully active, and Ride Height Control System (RHCS) technologies, providing our customers with a flexible and cost-effective upgrade solution.”
Future Testing and Upgrades
In the coming two years,the HydroCore upgrade kits and the Horstman Scalable Mobility architecture will undergo comprehensive field testing.This architecture allows for the installation of the HydroCore strut during the vehicle’s manufacturing process, with the potential to add new functionalities later through various upgrade kits, all without requiring modifications to the HydroCore strut itself.
Configurations of HydroCore Strut
The HydroCore strut is available in three configurations: passive damping, semi-active damping, and fully active damping kits, catering to diverse operational needs.
