ULTRA AP

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The ULTRA AP (Armored Patrol) is a concept combat vehicle that was unveiled in September of 2005 by Scott Badenoch and other engineers from the Georgia Tech Research Institute, the applied research arm of the Georgia Institute of Technology. The Ultra AP is being developed in tandem by GTRI with the ULTRA 3T. It is built on the skeleton of a Ford F-350 truck, combining the safety features and maneuverability of a commercially available truck with advancements in blast-deflection technology and materials. This vehicle was built for the U.S. Military as a possible replacement of the Humvee (HMMWV) on the battlefield and a showcase of technologies.

It features an egg-shaped crew capsule nicknamed the "blast bucket." It is shaped to deflect blasts and bullets and act as a roll-cage if the vehicle flips. The four occupants sit back to back in a diamond arrangement so that they can see hazards from all directions - a suggestion from troops in the field. It also moves the occupants away from the wheels, which are typically what sets off a land mine. The Ultra AP includes race car technology from NASCAR engineers like multipoint safety harnesses and shock-absorbing seats mounted on Skydex, which is used to cushion the outfield walls of baseball stadiums. It also uses the latest in bullet proof glass and the newest light-weight armor technology.

The Ultra AP was reviewed in Rolling Stone magazine, Fortune Magazine, USA Today, and Car and Driver magazine among many other publications. Currently, the U.S. military and the Department of Defense are in the process of replacing the HMMWV or Humvee, because they are being fielded in situations they were not designed for, such as taking on small arms fire, rocket propelled grenades, and improvised explosive devices.

[edit] See also

• Desert Patrol Vehicle
• Shadow RST-V
• Plasan Sand Cat

[edit] External links

• "NASCAR Engineers Help Design New Combat Vehicle"
• "Military Vehicle Illustrating New Combat Options"
• "Better, Stronger, Faster: New Military Vehicle Will Improve Safety and Efficiency for Marine Corps"
• "Improving Survivability and Mobility: Concept Vehicle Illustrating New Options for Military Combat Vehicles Unveiled"
• Marines Magazine: "Thinking Outside the Box"
• Car and Driver: "The Pentagon enlists the racing mind-set"