A future vehicle
While many technological advances occur in an evolutionary manner, occasionally a revolutionary technological appears on the horizon that creates startling new conditions and profound changes. Such is the case with the privately developed Moller Skycar, which is named after its inventor. With his permission, I would like to discuss the military potential of this vehicle. The ruggedized Moller Skycar variant the military is evaluating is called the light aerial multipurpose vehicle, or LAMV (pronounced "lam-vee").
技術的進步大多以漸進的方式進行，但有時可能出現突破性進展，帶來令人吃驚的新情況和深遠的變革。私人研制的“莫勒空中汽車”的情況就是如此，這是以其發明家的名字命名的。征得他的同意，筆者愿意探討—下這種運載工具的軍事潛力。美軍目前正在進行評估的加固型“莫勒空中客車”，叫做輕型空中多用途運載工具，或縮稱LAMV(讀作"lam—vee")。
The LAMV is a vertical take-off and landing aircraft that can fly in a quick, quiet, and agile manner. It is a new type of vehicle that combines the speed of an airplane and the vertical take-off capability of a helicopter with some characteristics of a ground vehicle, but without the limitations of any of those existing modes of transportation.
LAMV是一種垂直起降航空器，能以快速、低噪音、敏捷的方式飛行。這是一種新型的運載工具，它將飛機的速度、直升機的垂直起飛能力與地面運輸工具的某些性能結合到一起，但卻沒有這些現行運輸方式的局限性。
The LAMV is not operated like traditional fixed -- or rotary-wing aircraft. It has only two hand-operator uses to direct the redundant computer control twists to select the desired operating altitude and moves fore and aft to select the rate of climb. The right-hand control twists to select the vehicle's direction and moves side-to-side to provide transverse (crosswise) movement during the hover and early-transition-to-flight phases of operation; it also moves fore and aft to control speed and braking. Simply put, the LAMV is user friendly.
LAMV的操作不同于傳統的固定翼飛機或旋翼式飛機。它只設有兩個手操控制器，操作員通過它們來操縱冗余計算機控制系統去執行所需的飛行動作。轉動左手控制器可選擇所需要的飛行高度，前后移動左手控制器可選擇上升速度。轉動右手控制器可選擇飛行方向，左右移動右手控制器可控制盤旋時和從開始過渡到飛行階段的橫向動作；還可前后移動右手控制器控制速度和制動。簡而言之，LAMV對用戶來說是易于操作的。
The LAMV of the future will be 18 feet long, 10 feet wide, and 6 feet high and weight 2,200 pounds. It will hold four passengers and a payload of 875 pounds (including fuel). The vehicle will have a maximum rate of climb of 6,400 feet per minute and an operational ceiling of 30,000 feet. It will attain a top speed of 390 miles per hour at an altitude of 6,000feet and a cruising speed of 350 miles per hour at 25,000 feet, and it will have a maximum range of 900 miles at 80 passenger miles per gallon. The LAMV also will be quiet enough to function as an acoustic "stealth" plane at 500 feet. It will have a vertical take-off and landing capability and emergency airframe parachutes, and it will be capable of using various fuels.
未來的LAMV長18英尺，寬10英尺，高6英尺，重2200磅。它可運載4名乘客，有效負荷為875磅(包括燃料)。它的最大爬升速度為6400英尺／分，實用上升限度為30000英尺。在6000英尺高度的最高飛行速度為390英里/小時，在25000英尺高度的巡航速度為350英里/小時，在每加侖燃油的客英里數為80時的最大航程為枷英里。在500英尺高度時，LAMV的噪聲會很小，可作為“隱”聲飛機使用。它將具有垂直起落能力，并配備有應急機體降落傘，而且它將能夠使用多種燃料。
Safety, of course, is most important. The LAMV design incorporates a number of safety features. For starters, the LAMV has multiple engines. Unlike any light helicopter or airplane, the LAMV has multiple engine nacelles, each with two computer-controlled Rotapower engines. These engines operate independently and allow for a vertical controlled landing should either fail.
當然，安全性是最主要的。LAMV的設計具有若干安全特性。就動力裝置而言，LAMV有多臺發動機。LAMV不同于任何輕型直升機或飛機，它有多個發動機艙，每個發動機艙內裝有2臺計算機控制的Rotapower型發動機。所有這些發動機都能獨立運轉；因此即使有的發動機出了故障，也能實現垂直的可控制降落。
The LAMV features redundant, independent computer systems for flight management, stability, and control. Two airframe parachutes can be deployed in the event of the vehicle's catastrophic failure. These parachutes ensure that the LAMV and the operator and soldiers it carries can land safely. The Wankel-type rotary engines are very reliable because of their simplicity. The three moving parts in a two-rotor Rotapower engines are approximately seven percent of the number of parts in a four-cylinder piston engine. Each nacelle fully encloses the engines and fans, greatly reducing the possibility of injury to soldiers who might be near the vehicle in the event of an engine fire or explosion. Multiple systems check fuel for quality and quantity and provide appropriate warnings. The LAMV can land on virtually any solid surface.
LAMV的特色是用獨立的咒余計算機系統分別進行飛行管理、穩定性調整和控制。如果發生災難性故障，可以使用2頂機體降落傘。這兩頂降落傘可確保LAMV及其駕駛員和所載土兵安全著陸。汪克爾式轉子發動機結構簡單，非常可靠。每臺雙轉子Rotapower型發動機只有3個活動部件，僅為4缸活塞式發動機部件數的大約7％。每個發動機艙都將發動機和風扇完全密封，這樣，在發動機著火或爆炸事件中就可大大降低對航空器附近的士兵造成傷害的可能性。它的多重系統可以檢查燃料的數量和質量并給出適當的報警。LAMV實際上可以在任何固體表面上著陸。
The LAMV is aerodynamically stable. In the unlikely event that sufficient power is not available to land vertically, the LAMV's stability and good glide slope allow the operator to maneuver to a safe area before using the airframe parachutes. Since computers control the LAMV's flight during hover and transition, the only operator input is to control speed and direction. Undesirable movements caused by wind gusts are prevented automatically.
LAMV在空氣動力方面是穩定的。在無足夠動力垂直著陸時——這是不大可能發生的—LAMV的穩定性和良好的下滑坡度能使駕駛員在使用機體降落傘之前操縱飛機飛到一個安全地區。LAMV在盤旋以及過渡階段的飛行都由計算機控制，駕駛員要做的只是控制飛行速度和方向。它可以自動阻止由陣風所引起的非期望運動。
The potential economic advantages of the LAMV are worth mentioning. Its fuel-efficient engines and ability to operate on various fuels will low fuel costs. The LAMV uses one-fourth of the fuel per passenger mile used by the tilt-rotor V-22 Osprey or high performance helicopters. The LAMV's acquisition cost also will be a significant factor in its favor. The LAMV's purchase price per passenger seat is projected to be approximately eight percent of that for the 30-passenger Osprey.
LAMV在經濟上的潛在優勢也值得一提。其低燃耗發動機及可使用多種燃料的性能會降低燃料費用。LAMV的每乘客英里耗油量只相當于V—22“魚鷹”式傾轉旋翼機或高性能直升機的1／4。LAMV的購置成本也是它的一個重要的有利因素。LAMV的每乘客席采購價格大約只有30人定員的“魚鷹”機每乘客席的8％。
The LAMV's potential military uses will be numerous. They include aerial medical evacuation, aerial reconnaissance, command and control, search and rescue, insertion of special operations forces, air assault operations, airborne operations, forcible-entry operations, military police mobility and maneuver support, communications retransmission, battlefield distribution for unit resupply, transport of individual and crew replacements, weapons platform, noncombatant evacuation operations, battlefield contractor transport, and battle damage assessment.
LAMV的潛在軍事用途將是非常廣泛的。它們包括空中醫療疏散、空中偵察、指揮與控制、搜索與營救、特種部隊滲透、空襲作戰、空降作戰、強行進入作戰、憲兵機動與調動保障、通信轉播、分隊補給的戰場分發、單兵或班級替換人員的運輸、武器平臺、非戰斗人員的疏散行動、戰場承包商運輸以及戰損評估等。
Consider the LAMV's use in contingency operations. An adversary observing a LAMV would have great difficult determining the type of force approaching and that force's destination and intention. If the adversary did realize our intentions, the senior enemy commander would not have time to react. Imagine a forcible entry and early entry force package based in the continental United States that self-deployed overseas in LAMV's. With short halts along the way at seaborne resupply vessels or land-based refueling sites, the force package would reach its objective within hours. This concept would reduce dramatically the Army's dependence on the US Transportation Command for strategic airlift and on the geographical commander in chief for intratheater airlift support. The overall speed of force closure would improve greatly. This would enhance the senior commander's ability to conduct multiple, simultaneous operations in his battle space with an accelerated operational tempo that precludes the adversary from achieving his goals. Dependence on air and sea ports of debarkation would be reduced.
可以設想LAMV在突發行動中的應用。偵察到LAMV的敵方很難確定來犯部隊的種類及其目標和意圖。即使敵方確實意識到了我方的意圖，敵高級指揮官也來不及作出反應。可以想象一個基地在美國本土的強行進入和早期進入的部隊單位在利用LAMV中自行部署到海外的情況。由于沿途只在海上補給船或岸基加油站作短暫停留，這個部隊單位幾小時內就能到達目的地。這一概念將大大降低美國陸軍對美國運輸司令部的戰略空運以及對地區總司令的戰區內空運保障的依賴性。部隊集結的整體速度將大大提高。這將增強高級指揮官在其作戰空間內指揮多個同時作戰行動的能力，而加快了阻止敵方達到其目標的作戰行動節奏。對卸載機場和登陸港口的依賴性將會降低。
LAMV will benefit the Army's battlefield distribution concepts tremendously because it will be able to move commodities rapidly when and where they are needed across a widely dispersed battle space. Both air and ground main supply routes (MSR's) would exist throughout the battle space. The MSR's in the air would change as missions and situations dictate. Eventually, small, multi-commodity shipping containers could be designed for transport by either a LAMV or an even more futuristic medium or heavy aerial distribution; many types of land mines used to block convoy movements today would become less of a concern for logisticians and engineers since they could use MSR's in the sky. Or consider moving contractors around the battle space in LAMV's to perform their tasks. Basically, the LAMV concept promotes a smaller, more agile, and more effective sustainment presence within a supported battle space.
LAMV對陸軍的戰場配給概念極為有利，因為它能在一個分布范圍很廣的作戰空間內迅速地將物資在需要的時間運送到需要的地方。空中和地面的主要補給線會遍及整個作戰空間。空中主要補給線將隨作戰任務和戰場形勢的變化而變化。最后可以設計出小型的多類裝備運輸集裝箱，用LAMV或者更遠期的中型或重型空中機動運載器來運輸。可以設想用一支裝備有LAMV的新型運輸部隊來執行空中配給任務，后勤勞人員和工程人員將不再那么擔心今天阻擋護送運輸的多種多樣的地雷了，因為他們可以使用空中的主要補給線。或者設想由運送承包商在戰場空間內用LAMV來完成他們的任務。從根本上說；LAMV概念車促成了在有保障的戰斗空間內持續存在一種更小型化、更靈敏和更有效的車輛。
Consider the LAMV working in unison with the Army's Future Combat System (FCS). The LAMV could become an integral component of the overall concept for employing the FCS. The operator of thee LAMV actually could be a member of the FCS crew or unit. In this role, the LAMV would provide multiple benefits – reconnaissance, resupply, medical evacuation, and maintenance supply. Perhaps the AMV itself could become a future combat weapon system platform. Perhaps this innovative technology could force major changes in joint and Army doctrine, training, leader development, organizations, material, and soldier programs.
可以設想LAMV與美國陸軍未來作戰系統(FCS)的配合使用。LAMV可能成為采用FCS的整體概念中的一個主要成分。LAMV的駕駛員實際上可能是未來作戰系統部隊單位的一員。LAMV起這種作用時可以提供多種方便——偵察、補給、醫療疏散和維修保障。也許，LAMV本身就會成為一種未來的作戰武器系統平臺。也許，這種創新的技術會推動聯合條令和陸軍條令、訓練、指揮官培養；編制、器材以及土兵計劃等方面的重大變革。
Of course, the LAMV brings with it some obvious challenges. Its limited payload will be a negative factor. Its use will complicate Army airspace command and control. How the LAMV will be used in conjunction with forces under the joint force air component commander will have to be determined. LAMV support issues also require resolution. For example, operator selection and training, leader training, employment doctrine, LAMV basis-of-issue plans, and LAMV life-cycle management all require the Army's attention.
當然，LAMV也面臨一些明顯的挑戰。它有限的有效負荷是一個不利因素；它的使用將會使陸軍的空域指揮與控制復雜化。LAMV如何在聯合部隊的空軍部隊指揮官指揮下與各部隊協同，是必須解決的問題。LAMV的保障問題也需要解決。例如，駕駛員的挑選和訓練、指揮員的訓練、任用條令、IAMV撥發基數計劃以及LAMV壽命管理，所有這些都需要引起美國陸軍的注意。
However, once the LAMV technology matures, its military possibilities are startling. We in the Army combat service support "futures" arena are encouraged by the developments so far and hope that the LAMV will be ready for Army fielding around 2010. The LAMV can become a reality in our Army and possibility in the other armed services as well. Without any doubt, this technological innovation will succeed internationally inn the private, commercial, and military sectors. I hope that the US Army will be the first army in the world to embrace and exploit this technology. But sooner rather than later, this aerial vehicle technology will affect all of our lives. It is just over the horizon.
不管怎樣，LAMV技術一經成熟，其軍用潛力是驚人的。我們這些在陸軍戰斗勤務支援“未來”領域工作的人，受到了迄今為止研制動態的鼓舞，期望LAMV在2010年左右就能用于陸軍兵力的戰場部署。LAMV能夠在我們陸軍并且也可能在其他的軍種成為現實。無疑，這—技術革新將會在世界范圍的私營部門、商貿部門和軍事部門取得成功。我希望美國陸軍將是世界上掌握和利用這一技術的第一支軍隊。但是不久以后，這種空中運載器技術就將影響到我們生活的方方面面。它已經冒出地平線了。
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