Innovative Approach to Electric Drive Challenges
Alcon Components has delivered a bespoke braking system for the QinetiQ Modular E-X-Drive (M-E-X-Drive) electric propulsion system for tracked vehicles, the company announced on 28 March.
QinetiQ developed an innovative braking solution, with the brake embedded in the transmission assembly, which Alcon have production engineered. The solution incorporates multiple features that overcome the unique challenges confronting an electric drive of this type. Potential high temperatures are mitigated using a water cooling system, for example, which necessitated adaptation of the test and validation equipment. With very tight project timings, Alcon worked closely with QinetiQ on a solution to meet the needs of a constantly evolving overall system design.
As part of an electric tracked vehicle propulsion system, the M-E-X-Drive offers a lighter, more compact and efficient solution compared with conventional mechanical transmission systems. Combining electrical and mechanical components in a novel configuration that is efficiently packaged, the solution incorporates mechanical regenerative transfer of steering power, range-shift mechanisms, and permanent magnet motor technology. As a demonstrated low-risk solution, using M-E-X-Drive as part of an electric propulsion system offers the opportunity for innovative tracked vehicle configurations founded on a fundamental shift in platform design trade space options. Not only is an M-E-X-Drive-based transmission package smaller and lighter than comparable conventional transmissions, it also lends itself to novel vehicle layouts to improve survivability, agility, and mission success.
“The braking requirements of our system were […] unique and demanded fresh thinking and innovation to achieve production. Alcon’s engineers worked closely with my team to produce our unique solution that has completely met our requirements,” commented Steven Goldsack, Senior Programme Manager at QinetiQ.
Jonathan Edwards, Alcon’s Group Sales Director, added that the solution is “quite unique, and has required our production engineers to look at things differently in order to help QinetiQ solve the complex problems of braking such a tracked vehicle electric drive system […] This is yet another example of Alcon working together with defence sector OEMs to help solve complex problems”.
