Inventions benefit Warfighter, educate community

By Kyle Chronister, AMRDEC Public AffairsMarch 16, 2015

Communications Relay System
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D-Ring
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E-FOG
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REDSTONE ARSENAL, Ala. (Mar. 9, 2015) -- Among the "101 Rocket City Inventions" currently on display at Huntsville's Space and Rocket Center are three innovations created by the Aviation Missile Research, Development and Engineering Center.

In conjunction with the Center's featured exhibit, the "101 Inventions that Changed the World," the center included local patents ranging from a poultry watering system to the four AMRDEC contributions. AMRDEC's exhibited inventions include the High Mobility Multi Wheeled Vehicle Crew Extraction D-Ring, The Shadow Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Communication Relay System, and the Enhanced Fiber Optic Guided Missile.

Each featured AMRDEC invention was created to provide solutions to benefit the Soldier in communication, protection, and combat readiness beginning with the Iraqi War, and continuing through the current engagement.

"Pieces that came out of the AMRDEC really show the ingenuity that goes into the development of these systems whether it is communications, weapons, or in the case of the Crew Extraction D-Ring, you are talking about a very simple concept applied in a very unique and creative way," said Edward Stewart Huntsville's Space and Rocket Center Exhibits Director. "AMRDEC's engineers, scientist, and technicians apply the creativity and ingenuity to all of their inventions that are beneficial to the Warfighter."

AMRDEC's featured inventions include:

Crew Extraction D-Ring: During the Iraqi War, the High Mobility Multi Wheeled Vehicles were attacked and Soldiers would be pinned inside their rollover vehicle with no way to escape. AMRDEC's Prototype Integration Facility designed a D-Ring to provide an anchor point for emergency removal of damaged doors. Currently, there is a D-Ring on every up-armored HMMWV in the military inventory.

The UAV Communication Relay System: The UAV CRS provides Soldiers with early warning and intelligence information through enhanced communications between the ground control station operators and company commanders. This technology gives the Shadow UAV operators a ways to communicate with soldiers who are on the ground. Due to the high success of this system, the Communication Relay System has been used for situational awareness, call for fire support throughout the theatre and a way to communicate danger to troops at the ground control station.

Enhanced Fiber Optic Guided Missile: The EFOG-M is a deployable missile system able to defeat armored vehicles, rotary wing aircraft and other high-level targets. AMRDEC designed the EFOG-M with a high resolution infrared video camera on the front nose of the missile, providing the gunner a visual from the missile's perspective. This missile utilizes a fiber optic data link to transmit and receive command and sensor inputs to seek out and defeat threats hidden behind hills, foliage, or even urban settings.

The 101 Rocket City inventions, and its partner exhibit, 101 Inventions that Changed the World, remains at the US Space and Rocket Center through Dec. 31, 2015. Admission is free for active military (with discount for spouses and children). Admission is free for NASA employees.

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AMRDEC 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:

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