Improved Army Vehicle Brakes/Safety Through Partnering

An “Other Transaction” agreement, based upon 10 U.S.C 2371 authority was awarded to ITT Automotive (now Continental Teves) to integrate the commercial Continental Teves MK 50 Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) with low speed traction control on a M1097A2 High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV). Figure 1 shows the M1097A2 HMMWV at the Continental Teves Brimley Development Center. The use of the “Other Transaction” agreement allowed for the use of commercial accounting systems, bureaucratic Federal Acquisition Regulations were not required, government and contractor personnel were allowed to work together, and flexible intellectual property rights were negotiated. This new way of doing business made it easier to attract Non-Traditional Military Suppliers such as Continental Teves into doing business with the Army. The contractor will consider the needs and requirements of the HMMWV when designing the commercial truck ABS/Traction Control System (TCS) and Active Booster. They will also demonstrate the value of ABS on commercial trucks and the HMMWV and provide the U.S. Army with access to the same safety features as civilian drivers. This program is called “Electronically Controlled Active Braking System for Medium Duty Vehicles” and is one of more than 160 Dual Use Science and Technology (S&T) Projects jointly sponsored by the Department of Defense, the military services and private industry.