Mississippi State University’s (MSU) has partnered with US Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) on an advanced military engineering research project.

Valued at $7.8m, the three-year US Department of Defense’s (DoD) multidisciplinary project is led by MSU’s Center for Advanced Vehicular Systems (CAVS) and funded through the ERDC in Vicksburg.

According to MSU, the project focuses on remote sensing and developing advanced materials for force protection.

It also aims at developing force projection technologies, mobility modelling and simulation.

The technologies will improve ERDC’s military engineering and force protection capabilities to support national defence capabilities.

MSU Research and Economic Development vice-president Julie Jordan said: “MSU is proud to once again partner with ERDC on impactful research that will pay dividends for the US military.

“CAVS and the centre’s collaborators across campus have a strong track record of cutting-edge research in the areas of remote sensing, modelling and simulation, off-road autonomous vehicles and advanced materials, all of which will help make this project a success.”

Technical focus areas of the new project include sensor analytics and remote sensing.

It also covers the use of geo-materials, high-strength steel and other future technologies for force projection and protection.

MSU noted that the researchers will also conduct autonomous vehicle modelling and simulation for easier navigation in cold weather conditions.

CAVS executive director Clay Walden said: “Our researchers really excel in developing the models and algorithms necessary to determine how different materials, objects and systems will respond in any given situation, which is a vital part of military engineering and planning.”