ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, Md. (March 18, 2014) -- The Ballistic Research Laboratory Computer-Aided Design system is an integral part of empowering, unburdening and protecting Soldiers for the U.S. Army Research Laboratory at APG.
The Army initiated the the BRL-CAD system in the early 1980s after Mike Muuss and an assembly of BRL software developers recognized a need to analyze and conceptualize military vehicles on computers.
Software used to represent physical objects on a computer. Military researchers use the program to analyze and conceptualize military vehicles and other equipment containing vulnerability and lethality characteristics. BRL-CAD works to make military assets more survivable in combat situations.
The ARL Survivability/Lethality Analysis Directorate uses the software to analyze major Army vehicles and military weapons systems. They determine the effect of weapons on target vehicles in combat environments, taking into account a vehicle's geometry, mass and other components.
"It's important people know this 30-year success story exists," said BRL-CAD software developer C. Sean Morrison. Morrison has worked on BRL-CAD for more than 10 years. He started out as a summer student in 1998. "ARL continues to invest in development, which primarily happens here at APG."
Morrison said he thoroughly understands the software and how important it is that people know about the functions the system.
"It really is an amazing piece of software," Morrison said. "It's just hooked into so many things. DoD, NASA, academia, commercial industry--the research continues to be developed. You can use it to model a toaster or help save lives. There is so much potential that directly helps in so many ways and has for so many years."
In 2004, developers converted BRL-CAD into a free open source software system. This means a team of volunteers and professionals around the world are working to improve the software. BRL-CAD developers are making the system more interoperable, implementing advanced 3D modeling capabilities, building its open source community and increasing project participation.
The first public release of the software was in 1984.
BRL-CAD supports multiple systems, including Windows, Mac OS X, Linux, Solaris, BSD and many others, and can be used for both military and non-military purposes.
For example, for a military-themed simulation using analysis codes BRL-CAD determines the effects of an incoming threat on a military vehicle and allows developers to view and assess potential outcomes in combat situations. Researchers can then take the data collected from the simulation and use it to amend or improve a military vehicle or weapon.
BRL-CAD developers are also involved in several science, technology, engineering, and mathematics activities and are working with Google on additional programs.
ABOUT ARMY RESEARCH LABORATORY
ARL is part of the U.S. Army Research, Development and Engineering Command, which has the mission to develop technology and engineering solutions for America's Soldiers.
RDECOM is a major subordinate command of the U.S. Army Materiel Command. AMC is the Army's premier provider of materiel readiness -- technology, acquisition support, materiel development, logistics power projection, and sustainment -- to the total force, across the spectrum of joint military operations. If a Soldier shoots it, drives it, flies it, wears it, eats it or communicates with it, AMC provides it.
Related Links:
Survivability/Lethality Analysis Directorate
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