MillenWorks Light Utility Vehicle
Encyclopedia
The MillenWorks Light Utility Vehicle (LUV) is a prototype testbed for automotive technologies. It was designed and built by MillenWorks
under contract to the Tank Automotive Research, Development and Engineering Center. Textron Marine and Land Systems will use the platform for further development of component technologies. The vehicle is a possible Joint Light Tactical Vehicle
candidate.
layout. The front wheels of the vehicle are powered by an electric motor
located under the hood, while the rear wheels are powered by a separate diesel-electric
parallel hybrid consisting of a second electric motor as well as a standard NATO M16 diesel motor. This eliminates the driveshaft
common on most 4WD vehicles, and reduces the chances of an IED "mobility kill", since a hit in either the front or rear will not completely incapacitate the vehicle. Eliminating the driveshaft also allows for greater ground clearance, which combined with a V-hull
design, improves survivability from land mine
s, allowing the blast more space to dissipate. The vehicle's other safety features include scalable armor protection and a quick-release windshield for emergency egress. The front and rear sub-frames are identical, along with interchangeable suspension corners, which reduces the number of required spare parts. The throttle
, braking system
, and steering are all x-by-wire control system
s. The driver sits in a centered position, similar to Rod Millen's Pikes Peak race cars and the McLaren F1
. It is transportable by C-130, CH-47, and CH-53.
MillenWorks
MillenWorks, known as Rod Millen Motorsports until 2005, is an automotive technology company started by Rod Millen in 1980. The company began by preparing Millen's rally cars, and evolved into designing and building them...
under contract to the Tank Automotive Research, Development and Engineering Center. Textron Marine and Land Systems will use the platform for further development of component technologies. The vehicle is a possible Joint Light Tactical Vehicle
Joint Light Tactical Vehicle
The Joint Light Tactical Vehicle is a U.S. Army, USSOCOM, and U.S. Marine Corps program to replace the current Humvee with a family of more survivable vehicles and greater payload...
candidate.
Design
The LUV has a very revolutionary drivetrainPowertrain
In a motor vehicle, the term powertrain or powerplant refers to the group of components that generate power and deliver it to the road surface, water, or air. This includes the engine, transmission, drive shafts, differentials, and the final drive...
layout. The front wheels of the vehicle are powered by an electric motor
Electric motor
An electric motor converts electrical energy into mechanical energy.Most electric motors operate through the interaction of magnetic fields and current-carrying conductors to generate force...
located under the hood, while the rear wheels are powered by a separate diesel-electric
Diesel-electric
Diesel-electric transmission or diesel-electric powertrain is used by a number of vehicle and ship types for providing locomotion.A diesel-electric transmission system includes a diesel engine connected to an electrical generator, creating electricity that powers electric traction motors...
parallel hybrid consisting of a second electric motor as well as a standard NATO M16 diesel motor. This eliminates the driveshaft
Driveshaft
A drive shaft, driveshaft, driving shaft, propeller shaft, or Cardan shaft is a mechanical component for transmitting torque and rotation, usually used to connect other components of a drive train that cannot be connected directly because of distance or the need to allow for relative movement...
common on most 4WD vehicles, and reduces the chances of an IED "mobility kill", since a hit in either the front or rear will not completely incapacitate the vehicle. Eliminating the driveshaft also allows for greater ground clearance, which combined with a V-hull
V-hull
The V-hull is a type of vehicle armor design used on wheeled armored personnel carriers , infantry mobility vehicles and infantry fighting vehicles...
design, improves survivability from land mine
Land mine
A land mine is usually a weight-triggered explosive device which is intended to damage a target—either human or inanimate—by means of a blast and/or fragment impact....
s, allowing the blast more space to dissipate. The vehicle's other safety features include scalable armor protection and a quick-release windshield for emergency egress. The front and rear sub-frames are identical, along with interchangeable suspension corners, which reduces the number of required spare parts. The throttle
Electronic throttle control
Electronic throttle control is an automobile technology which severs the mechanical link between the accelerator pedal and the throttle. Most automobiles already use a throttle position sensor to provide input to traction control, antilock brakes, fuel injection, and other systems, but use a...
, braking system
Brake-by-wire
Drive-by-wire technology in automotive industry replaces the traditional mechanical and hydraulic control systems with electronic control systems using electromechanical actuators and human-machine interfaces such as pedal and steering feel emulators...
, and steering are all x-by-wire control system
Control system
A control system is a device, or set of devices to manage, command, direct or regulate the behavior of other devices or system.There are two common classes of control systems, with many variations and combinations: logic or sequential controls, and feedback or linear controls...
s. The driver sits in a centered position, similar to Rod Millen's Pikes Peak race cars and the McLaren F1
McLaren F1
The McLaren F1 is a supercar designed and manufactured by McLaren Automotive. Originally a concept conceived by Gordon Murray, he convinced Ron Dennis to back the project and engaged Peter Stevens to design the exterior of the car...
. It is transportable by C-130, CH-47, and CH-53.