Ground Vehicle Systems Center

GVSC successfully validated a new engine starting aid system for the Family of Medium Tactical Vehicles, replacing a legacy component with a modern solution from a new vendor. The system proved its reliability during an arctic cold-chamber startup test at our world-class Power Energy Vehicle Environmental Laboratory, confirming performance in extreme conditions.

With validation complete, the upgrade will move forward via an Engineering Change Proposal—strengthening cold-weather readiness across the fleet. This effort reflects how GVSC investments stay aligned with the Army’s warfighting strategy, ensuring every dollar directly supports future force readiness and operational overmatch.

U.S. Army Futures and Concepts Command / U.S. Army Transformation and Training Command / U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command

Come visit us at our booth in the Army Pavilion at Michigan Defense Expo (MDEX), May 12–14 at Huntington Place in downtown Detroit.

MDEX brings together leaders from government, industry, academia, and the military to strengthen the defense industrial base and advance national security. This year’s focus includes ground systems, autonomy, advanced manufacturing, and emerging technologies.

Stop by to connect with our team and learn how we’re contributing to the future of defense.

Learn more and register: MDEX-NDIA.com

U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command / U.S. Army Futures and Concepts Command / U.S. Army Transformation and Training Command

After a successful week of field testing at the Detroit Arsenal RACE Track, GVSC—alongside Southwest Research Institute (SwRI)—has validated the CRASH (Cybersecurity for Robotic and Autonomous Systems Hardening) security architecture on an automated Polaris MRZR.

With collaboration from DornerWorks and Michigan Tech Research Institute, the team demonstrated a powerful, multi-layered defense approach designed to safeguard autonomous platforms in complex environments.

What makes CRASH stand out is that it leverages the seL4 microkernel to isolate and protect critical software components—delivering the high level of assurance needed for mission-critical operations.

Looking ahead, the roadmap includes:

• Testing various commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) autonomy stacks within the CRASH architecture.
• Secure, reliable, and scalable software updates in contested environments.
• Advanced encryption and key management for robotic systems.
• Dynamic “defeaturing” and patching of poorly secured COTS components for military-grade cyber hardening.

This effort marks a major step forward in ensuring autonomous systems remain resilient, secure, and mission-ready in the face of sophisticated adversaries.

U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command / U.S. Army Transformation and Training Command / U.S. Army Futures and Concepts Command

GVSC is removing barriers that prevent industry partners’ solutions from reaching warfighters by reducing the risk around important technologies and opening the door for the U.S.’s strong commercial ecosystem to bring new capabilities to the field.

Last month, GVSC and US Army Combat Capabilities Development Command C5ISR Center hosted an Industry Day at Automation Alley in Troy, Michigan, focused on the licensing opportunity for the Power Distribution Unit (PDU)—a key technology enabling next-generation tactical power solutions.

The PDU is a versatile networking node that can be vehicle-mounted or ground-emplaced, enabling vehicles to rapidly form a vehicle-centric microgrid in about two minutes. Once connected, the system can transfer up to 120 kW of 600 VDC power between vehicles or to off-board systems. This capability has been successfully demonstrated multiple times with warfighters, highlighting its operational effectiveness in real-world scenarios.

At the event warfighters once again showed just how quickly the system can be adopted. With less than two hours of training, Soldiers were able to confidently set up and operate the vehicle-based microgrid system, reinforcing the technology’s ease of use and mission-ready design.

U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command/ U.S. Army Futures and Concepts Command / U.S. Army Transformation and Training Command