Design and Engineering
The original 6x6 All-Terrain Mobile Platform (ATMP) was designed and developed by Supacat in the early 1980s, to meet a specific need for load-carrying mobility across difficult terrain.
The latest generation of the ATMP is capable of carrying over one and a half tonnes at up to 60 km/hr with a crew of two. In the intervening 26 years of the company's existence it has grown to 85 employees, of which a quarter are Engineers and Technicians directly involved with the full spectrum of vehicle engineering from concept definition to certification and homologation. The company's Engineering team has been responsiblefor developing a number of specialist platforms designed for high mobility to meet specific customer needs. These include the versatile High Mobility Transporter (HMT) family of vehicles - based on unique air-spring suspension technology developed by Supacat's team and capable of carrying loads up to 5 tonnes - and boat launch and recovery systems capable of handling boats up to 16 tonnes.
Supacat's Engineering Team uses state-of-the-art computer-aided design (CAD) tools, fast prototyping methods, and the company's own test and trialling facilities to enable its designs to progress rapidly to production readiness. Historically, the company has developed platforms which have been further developed by its customers for specific applications. Supacat believes there are significant benefits to regarding the platform as one element of a system, and is expanding its systems integration capability to meet the increasingly complex needs of customers for fully developed capability in the shortest possible time.
The rapid progress of digital systems technology means that the many operational benefits seen historically only in very high value systems such as aircraft, ships, and commercial trucks can now be integrated economically into all land vehicles, enabling a step increase in capability. This is readily seen in the automobile industry where electronic management systems for engines, transmissions and brakes, maximise operating efficiency and enable rapid fault diagnosis and repair. Digital navigation and communication systems on land platforms are becoming commonplace, and mission-related systems requiring full integration to make the most of their inherent stand-alone capability are shrinking in size and weight whilst their functionality is increasing.
Digital technology has brought with it the capability to manage the operation and maintenance of fleets of vehicles efficiently from entry into service to fleet disposal/replacement. As an integral part of its Engineering capability, Supacat has developed a Vehicle Information Management (VIM) system that enables customer vehicle fleets to be monitored by the company's Support Services team continually for performance and availability. This computer-based tool is one element of the company's Integrated Logistic Support (ILS) package.
When bringing new concepts to the prototype stage the Engineering team works closely with its Manufacturing and Support team colleagues to ensure operation and maintenance are fully considered as part of the design process. Vehicles are fully tested for performance and reliability using the company's own test track as well as independent specialist environmental test facilities e.g. for climatic, structural (static and fatigue) and electromagnetic compatibility testing.