SmarTruck III offers multiple technological advantages

Army Logistician, Nov-Dec, 2004

The Army's new SmarTruck III can detect an airborne biological hazard and alert authorities before it can cause harm, track and repel attackers in complete darkness, and sense an incoming missile and knock it out of the sky. Its armor, four-point safety belts, run-flat tires, and fire-suppression systems enhance crew protection.

SmarTruck III was built by Integrated Concepts and Research Corporation of Madison Heights, Michigan, and Heart International of Grand Blanc, Michigan, in partnership with International Truck and Engine Corporation, for the National Automotive Center (NAC). NAC is the Army Tank and Automotive Research, Development, and Engineering Center's technology transfer arm.

The vehicle can be used in a war zone, for homeland security, or for other security purposes, such as border patrol. Its weapons station module has a remote-controlled .50-caliber machinegun that rises from the back of the vehicle and sniper-detection directional sound capabilities. Antimissile missiles deployed from behind SmarTruck III's side flares offer perimeter defense from rocket-propelled grenades and antitank guided missiles.

SmarTruck III is outfitted with ballistic protection that can withstand 51-millimeter machinegun rounds. It can be equipped with armor flooring that will dissipate the energy of a ground explosion away from the vehicle. The vehicle's automatic fire-suppression system can sense an explosion or fire in the crew compartment and suppress it within milliseconds. Its diagnostics system will help the crew identity and solve vehicle maintenance problems.

The vehicle has two sophisticated camera systems: The periscope camera comprises a night-vision camera, visible light camera, and laser range finder. The telemmersion camera system can be raised 8 feet above the truck to record the 360-degree, full-motion spherical scene at 100 million pixels per second. The system includes directional sound monitoring and can record for up to 4 hours.

SmarTruck III's bio-agent acquisition system can analyze samples and distinguish bio-aerosols from dust and other nonbiological materials. The vehicle's communication technologies create an integrated standalone command and control center. Its occupants can control unmanned aerial vehicles, and each of its rear seat passengers will be able to monitor SmarTruck III's many technologies and two 7-inch LCD (liquid crystal display) screens to view selected camera feeds. SmarTruck III also has high-speed satellite Internet access and satellite TV.

According to NAC's Bruce MacDonald, SmarTruck III is at the "top end of innovation coming out of NAC." The Army has not set a date for fielding SmarTruck III.