US Marines and US Army joins forces to develop automatic fuel tracking system 81703172

Military Defense Industry Technology - United States
 
US Marines and US Army join forces to develop automatic fuel tracking system
The Marine Corps and Army are jointly developing a fuel tracking system that will automatically record fuel usage to better assess energy efficiency in theater. The Joint Operational Energy Command and Control program, initiated in 2014, is focused on customizing commercial fuel monitoring systems to automate fuel tracking for fuel storage assets, fleet vehicles and generators.
     
The Marine Corps and Army are jointly developing a fuel tracking system that will automatically record fuel usage to better assess energy efficiency in theater. The Joint Operational Energy Command and Control program, initiated in 2014, is focused on customizing commercial fuel monitoring systems to automate fuel tracking for fuel storage assets, fleet vehicles and generators.
Energy C2 Dashboard System (credit: US Marines )
     
Still in testing, the system will collect vehicle diagnostic and fuel transaction details using microchips embedded in the fuel valves of refueling trucks as they resupply fuel-powered assets. Data will then be sent wirelessly to the commander for a visual representation of energy consumption. “Instead of a Marine tracking in a log book how much fuel they are issuing, JOEC2 will automate the process, removing the potential for errors and decreasing the time it takes for leaders to receive data,” said Maj. Douglas Peterson, project officer for JOEC2 at Marine Corps Systems Command.

JOEC2 has three fundamental components: data collection, communication and an integrated computer dashboard. The data collection will happen each time a vehicle or generator is refueled. The information is then transmitted wirelessly to the command operation center. Computers, running an energy dashboard application, receive the data and display the information for commanders to further analyze.

In December, the system was showcased during a Great Green Fleet demonstration to Navy and Marine Corps leaders to highlight Marine Corps fuel-efficiency efforts. GGF is a Department of the Navy initiative that demonstrates the sea service’s efforts to transform its energy use. MCSC enlisted the support of the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center Pacific to assist with technology demonstrations.

“We were also able to show that JOEC2 can gather secondary information such as mileage, idle times and fuel efficiency through an onboard diagnostic system similar to a personal car,” said Christine In, deputy project manager for Energy C2 at SSC Pacific. “Just like energy use, Marines should not have to wait until there is a failure to diagnose a maintenance issue.”

SSC Pacific is testing the system with the 3rd Battalion, 11th Marines at the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center in Twentynine Palms, California, to further understand the warfighter’s needs.