Crew Automation in Advanced Land Combat

Driving and other crew automation technologies for future Advanced Land Combat Vehicles are well underway. By the year 2000 the Army will demonstrate the capability to reduce the crewmembers in the Main Battle Tank from 4 to 2 soldiers. The new Department of Defense (DoD) Advanced Land Combat Science & Technology Thrust objective is focused to improve the deployability of the future force of combat vehicles. This can only be accomplished through drastic reductions in vehicle size. A clear means to reduce combat vehicle volume, is to shrink the crew size. Driver, gunner, commander & loader automation research and technology is now available or ongoing which can reduce the crew workload by 50% or more.