Condition Based Maintenance

Condition Based Maintenance (CBM) of military vehicles is an important initiative from the Department of Defense (DoD). Instead of waiting for vehicle and equipment failure or typical maintenance intervals (Failure Based or Schedule Based Maintenance), CBM allows for real-time operational data to be transmitted seamlessly to the maintenance depot. Using CBM ensures the fleet remains mission ready, with reduced vehicle down time and automated preventative maintenance. Program goals are to:

• Increase operation readiness
• Reduce down time
• Reduce maintenance costs
• Report operational status and system health
• Monitor and report fuel consumption
• Monitor and report ammunition levels and usage
• Monitor and track mobile loads and distribution events

Condition Based Maintenance for Military Ground Vehicles

The performance of military ground vehicle systems can degrade quickly due to the high operational tempo and extreme environments in theater. Current maintenance methods rely mostly on Preventative Maintenance Schedules (PMS) or maintenance triggered after failure. These methods are labor intensive and high cost. To address this issue, the United States Army is implementing a Condition Based Maintenance (CBM) policy that is supported by the Army Materiel System Analysis Activity (AMSAA). Through CBM, the vehicle reports system health, from tire pressure information to ammunition levels, through the Health and Usage Monitoring System (HUMS). A key requirement for HUMS is a thorough understanding of the ways in which system condition is degenerated, and the ability of the HUMS to detect, identify, and communicate all conditions that require maintenance immediately.

Communications Infrastructure Requirements 

Vehicle Health Monitoring Systems (VHMS) require all vehicles to form a communications network in order to exchange information. Data such as vehicle ID, fuel and ammunition levels, platform health summary and mobile loads need to be made available to all vehicles and the command center to create a Common Operating Picture (COP). A more detailed analysis of the sensor information collected from a vehicle requires the entire sensor data to be transferred from the vehicle to a centralized computer for processing. A higher bandwidth connection is mandatory for this transfer of data.

 Satellite communication is one way to provide the data infrastructure, since it is widely available for geographically dispersed operations. However, it is not feasible to monitor every vehicle via satellite, primarily due to cost. Building a vehicle-to-vehicle communications link allows for all vehicles to have a COP and limits the number of satellite links to just one or two vehicles within an operational area. Wi-Fi mesh technology is ideally suited for this application for the following reasons:

• Wi-Fi mesh infrastructure is significantly cheaper compared to satellite based networks
• Mesh points dynamically establish connectivity
• Wi-Fi networks support high bandwidth data transfers 

Fortress Solution

Fortress mesh products are ideally suited for this application because they offer:

• Unmatched radio performance and throughput
• Fastest encryption through hardware crypto
• Standard, interoperable, and compliant security (FIPS 140-2 accreditation, Suite B cryptography)
• Open interfaces to standard situational awareness visual aids, such as FalconView and Google Earth
• Best performance for video by intelligent use of unicast and multicast data forwarding
• ATEC (Army Test and Evaluation Command) and EPG (Electronic Proving Ground) tested performance
• Technology proven through applications for USMC Autonomic Logistic capability, Army VHMS and Common Logistics Operating Environment (CLOE)

Fortress ES820 Vehicle Mesh Point

The ES820 Tactical Mesh Point differentiates itself by being the only product specially designed for vehicle use that operates in a broad range of environmental conditions, with the most comprehensive security in the industry. The ES820 sets itself apart from any competing product through its Size, Weight and Power (SWaP) attributes that are custom designed for vehicles. The ES820 is a highly ruggedized unit with certified environmental rating (MIL-STD-810G, IP67, NEMA-4X, ICC/ENX). It has been field tested to provide 2+ miles of direct connectivity between vehicles. 

Fortress ES520 Deployable Mesh Point

The Fortress ES520 Deployable Mesh Point is designed for rapidly deployable networks. It is a highly versatile unit with dual radios and a built-in 8-port Ethernet switch. It is ruggedized for dependable performance under harsh outdoor environments including desert, tropical and maritime environments (MIL-STD-810G, IP65, NEMA-4X, ICC/ENX).

Product specifications and certifications