The Submersible Matting System (SUBMAT) is a force projection technology being developed by researchers at the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC). Its purpose is to solve an issue faced during amphibious military operations: vehicles getting stuck in the soft, wet sand of the tidal zone. SUBMAT stabilizes the beach, providing a reliable surface for vehicles to traverse during Joint Logistics Over-the-Shore (JLOTS) operations. The innovative concept was launched during a brainstorming session but needed an industry partner to accelerate prototype development. ERDC’s partnership intermediary, ERDCWERX, helped locate Shavers Whittle, a Louisiana construction company that previously worked on levee matting systems for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. They rapidly produced the next SUBMAT prototype. Only 15 months after the initial brainstorming session, ERDC began testing prototypes with the Navy. SUBMAT’s successful field tests have led to interest from the U.S. Army and U.S. Coast Guard, as well as other potential uses in austere environments. ERDC researchers are addressing those unique challenges and are working to deliver optimal and agile solutions for the Warfighter. Watch to learn more. Industry video and interview: Logan Hossley, ERDCWERX

SEVEN Labs, ONE ERDC From developing technologies that...

SEVEN Labs, ONE ERDC From developing technologies that...

SEVEN Labs, ONE ERDC From developing technologies that...

Less fuel, longer life, ERDC teamed up with LEMA Solar to assist the 4th Navy during their FLEX 2026 operations, providing all shoreline power for the myriad of companies and technologies on display. (Long Version)

Less fuel, longer life, ERDC teamed up with LEMA Solar to assist the 4th Navy during their FLEX 2026 operations, providing all shoreline power for the myriad of companies and technologies on display. (Short Version)

SEVEN Labs, ONE ERDC From developing technologies that...

SEVEN Labs, ONE ERDC From developing technologies that...

SEVEN Labs, ONE ERDC From developing technologies that...

SEVEN Labs, ONE ERDC From developing technologies that...

It’s estimated that up to ten percent of ordnance does not detonate when it impacts training ranges and combat zones. That means that even after a conflict or live-fire training are over – sometimes even decades later – unexploded bombs, missiles, and artillery shells still pose a deadly threat to military personnel and civilians. Finding them and cleaning them up, usually done by personnel on the ground, is dangerous work. But a team of researchers from the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center’s Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory (CRREL) and Dartmouth College is pioneering a new way to keep humans out of harm’s way by using drones to find and identify unexploded ordnance. “We use what's called electromagnetic induction so generally we just create a really strong magnetic field and that magnetic field interacts with these metallic targets that are in the subsurface,” said CRREL Research Physical Scientist Michele Maxson. “We're able to use physics to look at that magnetic field and say, ‘OK this metal target in the subsurface, what is its shape, what is its size?’ Once we're able to figure out what its shape is and what its size is and what its depth is as well, we can say ‘that is going to be a munition,’ or ‘that's going to be a coke can.’” The custom built, electromagnetic array that detects and categorizes the unexploded ordnance is light enough to be flown by a group 2 octo-rotor drone that is already widely used by the U.S. Army. “This is intended to ultimately be our rapidly deployable, mid-scale solution,” said Brian Quinn, a CRREL research general engineer. “This is the best way to enter an austere environment and do some investigation. We'd certainly rather keep people out of harm's way, and we can put equipment in their place.” Beyond its battlefield applications, researchers are also exploring ways the system could be used on civil works or even everyday construction projects, such as finding lead pipes, alerting workers to buried items before they begin digging or locating underground infrastructure. Archive videography by: Airman 1st Class Trevor Bell, Spc. Elijah Magana, Airman 1st Class Makenna Patterson, Pfc. Nicholas Bryan and Lance Cpl. Kanoa Thomas, Petty Officer 2nd Class Jackson Adkins, Sgt. Marla Ogden, and William Lewis.

SEVEN Labs, ONE ERDC From developing technologies that...

The Port of Nome is undergoing a major modernization effort with the goal of providing a safe, reliable, and efficient transportation system for commerce, national security, and tourism. As a crucial regional hub for the Seward Peninsula and western Alaska, this project in partnership with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ (USACE) Alaska District addresses the port's current depth limitations to better serve the community, the region and the military. The project requires a design modification that will enlarge the harbor's outer basin and create a new deep-water basin at minus 40 feet, enabling safer access for larger-class vessels. To validate the new design, district engineers and Alaska Marine Pilots sought out the assets and expertise of the U.S. Army Watercraft and Ship Simulator at the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC). The initial simulations tested the proposed designs under real-world conditions, ensuring the safety and efficiency of the final selection. The most recent simulations brought the group back to ERDC to confirm the initial phased approach to the project. Watch to learn more about ERDC’s role in furthering the success of this project and what it means for its USACE and Port of Nome stakeholders.

The Port of Nome is undergoing a major modernization effort with the goal of providing a safe, reliable, and efficient transportation system for commerce, national security, and tourism. As a crucial regional hub for the Seward Peninsula and western Alaska, this project in partnership with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ (USACE) Alaska District addresses the port's current depth limitations to better serve the community, the region and the military. The project requires a design modification that will enlarge the harbor's outer basin and create a new deep-water basin at minus 40 feet, enabling safer access for larger-class vessels. To validate the new design, district engineers and Alaska Marine Pilots sought out the assets and expertise of the U.S. Army Watercraft and Ship Simulator at the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC). The initial simulations tested the proposed designs under real-world conditions, ensuring the safety and efficiency of the final selection. The most recent simulations brought the group back to ERDC to confirm the initial phased approach to the project. Watch to learn more about ERDC’s role in furthering the success of this project and what it means for its USACE and Port of Nome stakeholders.