About
Concept
Condition monitoring (CM) is a technique that has gained major attention in the wider industry and could be the missing link towards predictive maintenance in critical weapons machinery. More specifically, CM would involve the monitoring of specific parameters of critical weapons machinery which can be used in Predictive Maintenance 4.0 through extrapolation of those parameters for the condition of the weapons machinery in a future time. This approach allows the technological shift from reactive maintenance (i.e., allowing the machine to break in order to service it) to predictive and preventive maintenance (i.e., optimise service based on forecasting through monitoring specific parameters).
Such a practice is used widely in civilian industrial equipment and activities, such as for example, bearing fault monitoring of rotating machinery or auxiliary parts conditioning, including compressors, pumps, motors and presses. Measurements are case-specific and include, but are not limited to, vibration, acceleration, pressure, temperature, rate of liquid flow etc.
Operational Effectiveness Through Integrated Readiness
The ability to respond and fulfil Critical Mission Operations and compete strategically in the battlefield depends heavily on our readiness and interoperability. The weapon’s long-term capacity to produce the desired operational outcome or effect is based on the threat, physical environment, and maintainer’s skill level, however weapon systems are produced and maintained separately from their operators.
RAPTOR foresees applying CM for defence purposes by printing robust and bespoke miniature sensors and electronic control systems directly on the weapon/weapon system, with military grade communication and data encryption protocols. Parameters measured and analysed are temperature, vibration, and acceleration. Real-time assessment of the functional health of critical weapon machinery is extremely useful for predicting when it will fail or otherwise deteriorate so that they it be serviced or replaced or its operational plan of use amended before failing, thereby improving its reliability, accuracy, performance, and safety. The benefits include lower costs, reduced unplanned downtime, increased safety, higher rates of asset utilisation, and extended asset life.
RAPTOR greatly improves the readiness, reliability, safety, fosters interoperability, and strengthens advanced planning through predictive maintenance, supporting a shared strategic culture through the leverage of both civilian and defence assets from multi-domain sectors and strengthened advance planning. RAPTOR envisions exploring its potential beyond the project’s lifespan and deploying its technology within the EU defence framework, promoting the increased involvement from the Military Planning and Conduct Capability, contributing in the shaping the EU Rapid Deployment Capacity, reinforcing the posture of the European Defence Industrial Technology Base (EDITB).
RAPTOR also envisions to strengthen the interoperability with Future Soldier Systems for enhanced situational awareness, increased lethality, and improved survivability, through coded and standardised information exchange and the inclusion of new materials, wearable sensors and extensive use of AI.