The "nation's laboratory for advanced military ground systems and automotive technology" is funding a new research program using UDM's engineering expertise to help develop smarter, more communicative and more reliable military vehicles. The "lab" is the U.S. Army Tank and Automotive Research, Development and Engineering Center (TARDEC), located in Warren, MI.

The Advanced Ground Vehicle Reliability Research Center (AGVRRC), established this fall, builds on the expertise and resources of UDM Mechanical Engineering (ME) and Electrical & Computer Engineering (ECE) faculty to combine innovative electronic, mechanical and structural technologies to advance mobility and agility in driven and driverless vehicles and related systems.

The core technologies integrate embedded and networked intelligent control and prognostics systems into advanced vehicles using a systems-based design approach to simultaneously maximize safety and overall reliability.  The multi-year $1 million effort provides federal funds for faculty and graduate student support, travel and equipment/supplies.  Collaboration with industry and other universities working in related areas is anticipated.

Two major areas being pursued within the first phase of funding are:

• Reliability Implications of In-Field Modifications, Data Analysis on Mission Failures, and Condition-based Maintenance and Prognostics
• Next Generation Network for Military Vehicles

The co-principal investigators on these projects are ECE Professors Nizar Al-Holou, Mark Paulik and Mohan Krishnan and ME Professors Michael Jenkins, Shuvra Das, Mostafa Mehrabi and Jonathan Weaver.