TRACKED AIR CUSHION VEHICLE DEVELOPMENT

Program results to date, current activities and plans for future work are discussed. System engineering studies performed so far have identified and examined the major alternatives available for a TACV system, and significant R and D requirements. Factors which will strongly affect the design and cost of an operational TACV system include the vehicle-guideway configuration, the effects of cross winds, the relationship between cushion pressure and the free stream dynamic pressure, and the type of propulsion subsystem used. Research activities to advance the state of the art of TACV systems are briefly described. These include the NASA/TRW wind tunnel tests, the suspension and dynamics studies at MIT and NASA, and the experimental French Aerotrain tests. The objective, approach and requirements of the recently contracted design studies for a Tracked Air Cushion Research Vehicle are presented. (Author)

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Prepared in cooperation with TRW Systems Group, Washington, D.C. Presented at Transport Engineering Conference, Washington, D.C. 28-30 Oct 68.
• Corporate Authors:

  MITRE Corporation

  Bedford, MA  United States 
• Authors:
  • McCabe, W L
  • Swanson, C G
  • Tang, K K
• Publication Date: 1968-10

Media Info

• Pagination: 16 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Intelligent transportation systems; Propulsion; Tracked air cushion vehicles; Vehicle power plants
• Uncontrolled Terms: Propulsion systems
• Old TRIS Terms: Advanced systems
• Subject Areas: Operations and Traffic Management; Railroads; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00039119
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Technical Information Service
• Report/Paper Numbers: Status Rpt
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Nov 24 1973 12:00AM