Bomb Proof

Creation, based in Hampshire UK, provides a range of vehicle design and engineering services using Dassault Systèmes PLM technology supplied and supported by Applied PLM Solutions.

The company has recently been engaged with military vehicle design and engineering programmes for OEMs including BAE and Lockheed Martin for which Creation develops Adaptive Vehicle Architecture (AVA) for a new Operations Utility Vehicle System (OUVS); a mine-proof land-based military personnel and equipment carrier. This 12 tonne vehicle with its facetted shape and low radar and heat signatures was developed by Creation in just 7 months.

Company founder Bill Davis explained the system that the company uses to achieve this accelerated performance. “Creation has been developing its Dassault Systèmes infrastructure to take advantage of the design and engineering benefits that are available from this methodology. We currently have 6 seats of CATIA V5 with which we develop 3D models. Part of our work involves analysing structures and assemblies and animating vehicle functions for kinetic performance investigation. In prototyping and manufacturing the accuracy that we can achieve is astounding with no variation between the dimensions of the digital model and those of final manufactured components,

“This means that we are able to design with confidence knowing that the finished vehicle is conforms to the strict military requirements but is also buildable and having been built will perform to specification in duty.”

Designs on Peace Keeping.

Military vehicles represent pure function but some have a distinctive style and none more so that the 110 Land Rover which has been the ‘face’ of the British Military since 1948.

Bill Davis continued. “As perhaps the most iconic vehicle ever made the Land Rover has great cultural significance around the world but, it has severe deficiencies in today’s theatre and has been much criticised for its lack of armour. Our experience in the US Future Tactical Truck System, AVA and

within other international military vehicle work packages has led us to develop a new vehicle ‘Z’.

If Looks Could Kill

Z looks like a Land Rover but there the similarity ends. Bill Davis described Creations accomplishment. “Z is a mine-proof vehicle system, entirely modelled in CATIA V5. It has 80% carryover of parts from the British Army’s existing legacy fleet but with a 5.25 Tonne payload over its OUVS conforming rear axle.

“Motive power by MAN delivers considerable driving performance while adjustable ride height makes for extra safety on public roads and better traction on rough terrain.”

Using the same dimensions as the Land Rover and developing Z as a modular design means that standard components are used in conjunction with the vehicle, and existing military logistics systems are also deployable allowing the military to re-use much of its existing fleet resource.

Creation made use of reverse engineering to conform to legacy fleet dimensions and has been working with Technology Partner, Applied PLM Solutions to put 3DVIA technology into Z.

Intelligence Gathering Mission

Applied MD Shaun Clark explained. “3DVIA coupled with on-board vehicle breakage detectors provide condition reports and repair instructions that are also transmitted to base. 3D animated repair options are presented to the crew providing them the information they need to make better decisions in the event of breakage. This application of 3DVIA is based on the same technical publications data that accompanies the vehicle into service to provide Z fleet operators with lower through life costs resulting from this advanced source of information.”

Shaun Continued. “It is difficult for companies to keep abreast of the IT developments that will prove most beneficial to them because of the large volume of information that needs to be reviewed to make an informed choice. By focussing on the PLM design, production and usage cycle and working within the world’s most advanced automotive and aerospace supply chains Applied is able to see the potential of a technology and deploy it to maximum advantage in diverse environments. This is use of 3DVIA is a good example of a technology strategy being transferred in to an application that will prove advantageous to crews In the field as well as reducing through life cost.”

 Bill Davis added. ‘The 3D methodology that we operate at Creation improves performance of design, analysis and production and from our work with Applied it also extends into on-board vehicle health monitoring. The same 3DVIA data is available to fleet operators who save cost by applying it to re-use existing modular component stocks as well as being able to benefit from the advanced 3D animated operation instructions and maintenance engineer training capabilities that the software offers.”

Creation has many projects underway each making full use of the most advanced aspects of Dassault Systèmes software to fully exploit the 3D modelling work that forms the core of the company’s design to production methodology. In conjunction with Applied, Creation is bringing 3D technology to military vehicle applications that help save lives and bring peace to the world’s trouble spots.