The US Department of Defense is partnering with industry and academia on a multiphase CTMA initiative to adapt modern commercial best-in-class controllers to various systems on equipment to assess the benefits of replacing aging/last-generation controllers with today’s more universal technology.

The Bradley Fighting Vehicle (BFV) will be used as a surrogate, as it uses an older style joy-stick design for its control system inputs. This operating handle, which controls the turret movements and firing operations, juts out into the path of the vehicle hatch and is vulnerable to breakage.

This initiative will develop control systems that are ruggedized, able to withstand harsh conditions as well as able to withstand near continuous use.  In addition, they must be reprogrammable and easily serviceable as any issues with a hand station could shut down a vehicle, piece of equipment, or manufacturing line.

In earlier phases, several prototype units and a field replaceable circuit card assembly were developed and tested. Phase III will modify the control handle hardware and software based on Phase II test results, develop and test additional prototypes and manufactured representative system sample units, and execute a common qualification of the final controller hardware and software configurations.

If you feel your organization has the technical capabilities and would like to be considered for this project, please complete the form below and upload your organization’s technical capabilities statement.

Interested Submissions Due by 8/22/2023.

We encourage participation of Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (DBEs), including Minority Business Enterprises (MBEs) and Women’s Business Enterprises (WBEs).