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TARDEC defies intense Iraq heat
By Ashley John
U.S. Tank Automotive Research, Development and Engineering Center
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Each Humvee cooling kit consists of four Foster-NSC developed water-filled vests. The vests fit under a Soldier’s normal body armor and are connected via hoses to the vehicle's microclimatic cooling sub-system. (Courtesy photo) |
Heat has shown to be a silent killer to the Soldier, excessive heat can cause premature fatigue, a cause directly leading to a Soldier’s breakdown of mental processes. Overheating is especially prevalent in an armored environment, increasing the need to cool a Soldier’s core body temperature whenever feasible.
Cooling the hot Humvee became an elevated priority for the Army’s Tank Automotive Research, Development and Engineering Center due to the conception that heat issues have become as serious as enemy fire for Soldiers in theater.
Providing a solution to the intense heat stress felt by the Soldier is a rapid TACOM Life-Cycle Management Command initiative that TARDEC in collaboration with Natick Soldier Center, Natick, Mass. The U.S. Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine and the Program Executive Office for Combat Support & Combat Service Support have transitioned to “Cool the Force.”
“This program has demonstrated mission capability enhancements that Micro Climatic Cooling can provide to the Soldier,” said Arthur H. Adlam, Jr., TARDEC associate director. “The MCC enhances Soldier survivability and performance while operating in elevated temperature conditions for extended time periods.”
During the summer of 2004 with the on surge of armored vehicles—mainly Humvees, Soldiers were exposed to relentless heat temperatures in excess of 130 degrees Fahrenheit. TARDEC, working alongside NSC and Foster-Miller, Inc., developed a rapid solution to a question posed by PEO CS&CSS—how can the Army enable Soldiers in Add-on Armor Humvees to perform longer missions, while alleviating the heat stress brought on by the armored tactical vehicle? The existing Red Dot air conditioning units did not provide sufficient cooling, especially during times when the turret ring was open. A response was formulated to show that a Soldier cannot properly operate and complete a mission safely with extreme heat conditions, therefore a solution needed to be devised that would cool a Soldier’s body temperature for extended duration missions.
Through the leveraging of existing Army systems, the team provided a rapid solution to the Warfighter. A cooling garment was already being used by the Air Warrior program, which had the ability to cool a Soldier’s body temperature without interfering with daily operations. This garment would serve as a supplemental device to the industry mounted Red Dot air conditioning units that have become standard in AoA military vehicles.
Each Humvee cooling kit consists of four Foster-NSC developed water-filled vests. The vests fits under a Soldier’s normal body armor and are connected via hoses to the vehicles’ microclimatic cooling sub-system, which was developed by Foster-Miller Inc. The fungicide-treated water is chilled and circulated through the garment. A hands-free release system allows the Soldiers to quickly detach from hoses for emergency egress. The vest can continue to be worn outside the vehicle. This system can be installed in approximately one hour with a standard mechanics tool set by two Soldiers.
Soldier feedback from the initial shipment of cooling vests showed that the liquid cooling vests did in fact provide the Soldier with sufficient cooling to increase mission duration, and reduce the risks of heat related medical problems. “Since we have had the vests, they have become increasingly popular with the platoon…they argue over who gets to wear them,” said 1st Lt. David J. Dixon, Jr., XVIII Airborne Corps. “They wanted me to ask for more.”
“As a ground vehicle systems integration leader, TARDEC has leveraged existing Army technologies and has incorporated them onto vehicle platforms that are currently being operated in desert conditions,” said Dr. Richard McClelland, director of TARDEC. “This is a direct response to feedback from Soldiers in the field.”
The Humvee Cooling kits can be expanded to fit other military and commercial vehicles, and are also being applied to ambulances to treat Soldiers needing medical emergency treatment for heat stress/stroke. Further operational assessments of the cooling kits are being made to gather Soldier performance evaluations on military vehicles.
The continual positive reception of the liquid cooling vests has been extremely motivational and rewarding for all project engineers. “First of all, thank you for all of your support…the cooling vests worked very well for us, and I believe they will serve the soldiers well in the future,” said Maj. Brit S. Britton, commander 644th Transportation Company.
Addressing harsh environmental threats to the Soldier was brought to the forefront of Army research due to the joint efforts initiated by TARDEC and NSC. At the onset of the PEO request, TARDEC had been tasked to find out whether there was an actual Soldier identified need for supplemental cooling systems for armored vehicles, with the first focus on the ASK Humvee.
Using data from tests on ASK Humvee’s performed at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md., and TARDEC, independent analyses were performed by the U.S. Army Research Laboratory-Human Research and Engineer Directorate Tank-Automotive and Armaments Command and the U.S. Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine.
The analysis assessed the effects of heat on crew and vehicle functionalities. Both of these organizations concluded that there is a definite supplemental cooling requirement needed for Soldiers who perform missions longer than 90 minutes in hot-dry climatic zones, and for missions lasting no more than 60 minutes for hot-humid climatic zones.
Enhancing the mission and safety of the Soldier has been the end result of the collaborative effort of all involved. The usage of the cooling vests has helped to increase mission duration and improved mental activity for the Warfighter. The cooling system alleviates Soldiers hydration needs and serves as a heat stress treatment, minimizing the patient treatments for heat stress and heat stroke.
This LCMC collaborative solution to a Soldier’s need, benefits both the current and future forces. Together, the Army and industry quickly resolved a need that will foster long term requirements that are expandable to other tactical and commercial vehicles. These systems are Soldier friendly and easy to install, leading to good health, greater safety and increased survivability. A Soldier will now have the ability to beat the heat in Iraq by wearing one of the liquid-filled cooling vests.
Operation “Cool the Force” is on its way, and the hot Humvee is finally cooling off.
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