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12 Oct 2022
Meet the newest addition to the Hunter family – the Hunter Armoured Vehicle Launched Bridge Platform (HT-AVLB)!
Developed by our engineers in close collaboration with the Singapore Combat Engineers, the fourth-generation assault bridge was officially commissioned during the Singapore Combat Engineers 55th Anniversary Parade on 12 October 2022. As the world’s first fully digitalised closed-hatch assault bridging system, it offers improved survivability, mobility, and networked warfighting capabilities for the SAF.
Our engineers were the HT-AVLB’s overall programme manager, and oversaw its design and development while leveraging Design Innovation – an approach focused on addressing user needs – to deliver a platform that would not only meet the Army’s requirements but also provide an enjoyable user experience.
Senior Programme Manager (Land Systems) Liau Wei Xiang, who led the team, explained: “Beyond just delivering a system to our partners based on their requirements, we felt that it was important to understand how they train and operate, and so we kept communicating with them to deliver something that would be truly beneficial for them. That led us to leverage Design Innovation as our core approach for the HT-AVLB, and developed a platform that would be a valuable addition to our forces and also give our soldiers an enhanced experience.”
The team’s focus on user-centricity is evident in the HT-AVLB’s slew of innovative bridging technologies. With various camera views and sensors features, the platform was also designed to be entirely operable from within the cockpit, eliminating any need for soldiers to dismount the vehicle during bridging operations.
Through the artful integration of the Army Tactical Engagement and Information System (ARTEMIS) and an exclusive bridging app designed by our engineers, the cockpit features a fully digitalised interface packed with user-friendly controls and safety features. External cameras transmit videos of the surrounding terrains in real time to screens inside, while sensors, laser range finders, and in-built GPS functions provide operators with all-round manoeuvring and surveillance abilities.
The HT-AVLB also includes improved command and control connectivity for swifter battle coordination on the field, and a guided maintenance and troubleshooting aid in the form of health utilisation and monitoring systems as well as a diagnostics expert system.
Principal Engineer (Land Systems) Lim Choon Wee shared some insights into their methodology: “Making full use of human-centric interface design principles, we ensured that the HT-AVLB’s various features would be intuitive to use and navigate. For example, we applied a three-click rule in the HT-AVLB’s digital cockpit – where every function would be accessible within three clicks – and automated calculations to minimise cognitive load.”
Photo: The Singapore Army
Accompanying the HT-AVLB’s debut is a Mixed Reality (MR) Training Simulator that aims to immerse soldiers in realistic spatial and operational settings in a risk-free and sustainable training environment. Featuring interactive instructions on bridge operation, ground guidance, and maintenance tasks, the MR Training Simulator has multiple training courses of varying advancements. This allows flexible and self-directed learning, without any reliance on physical equipment.
For all its technical accomplishments, the HT-AVLB is much more than the sum of its parts. Engineer (Land Systems) Ang Wee Onn explained: “The Hunter-AVLB is the result of meticulous teamwork. Everyone contributed their expertise and pushed the boundaries, and this combined effort made it possible for us to deliver the HT-AVLB.”
