Remote controlled live firing trials for armoured vehicles

Engineers contacted our specialists for help with developing the system for a major overseas programme they were working on at their site in Ampthill, Bedfordshire. Richard Clark, R&D Chief Engineer at the site, said: 

“Initial unmanned live firing trials had to be conducted as part of the qualification process for the vehicle. As the trials were conducted without personnel on board we needed a robotic remote-controlled facility to work with the in-vehicle fire control panel.”

Understanding the brief, our specialists designed and built a remotely-controlled robotic switch system. The switch selector featured stepper motor technology with absolute angle feedback and was linked to a ruggedized motion control module that operated from the vehicle’s on-board power supply.

Lockheed Martin UK’s team of test engineers could be situated up to 25 metres from the vehicle and select the positions of multi-position controls and toggle switches from within the safety of a remote bunker. Engineers were able to rapidly track the system-specific test programme switch sequences which could then be accurately, repeatedly and remotely controlled through the extensive trials campaign.

Lockheed Martin UK is the UK-based arm of Lockheed Martin Corporation, a global security and aerospace company principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advance technology systems. Lockheed Martin UK employs around 2,000 people and has major business operations in Ampthill, Bedfordshire and Havant in Hampshire. The Ampthill site is a leading provider of mission systems for armoured fighting vehicles and their integration onto a range of platforms. Programmes include billion-dollar contracts to deliver the turret for the British Army’s AJAX reconnaissance vehicle and the Warrior capability sustainment programme.

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