Commander, U.S. Army Missile Command, Acquisition Center, Redstone Arsenal, AL 35898-5280

25 -- TRIANGLE CRAWLER SYSTEM POC Contact Julie Middlebrooks, Contract Specialist, (205) 876-4152, Shirley Hill, Contracting Officer, (205) 842-7436. (PCF). The U.S. Army Missile Command, Acquisition Center, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama intends on awarding a sole source contract to Suzuki Motors for one each Triangle Crawler System (TCS) system for an All-Terrain Vehicle. TCSs are miniature track assemblies that can be fitted to a four-wheel-drive vehicle in place of conventional wheels. TCSs will be mounted to the vehicle at their center point only, and will freely rotate around their mounting point. The TCSs will operate in nearly the same envelope as large conventional wheels. The TCSs are triangularly shaped so as to naturally have one tracked surface in contact with terrain in normal operation. Drive power will be transmitted to the track treads from the central mounting point so that the tread will be driven around the perimeter of the assembly for mobility. Upon encountering an obstacle, the entire TCS will rotate, executing a climbing maneuver over the obstacle. The design of the TCS allows for the navigation of much larger obstacles than conventionalcircular wheels. The large tread contact area also allows for decreased surface pressures. The capabilities afforded by this technology are increased mobility in rough terrain, increased stability, greater sand, mud, and snow traction, and greatly improved trench and vertical obstacle navigation. (0161)

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