Walking propeller machines have long attracted the attention of scientists and designers around the world. Such a technique, in theory, has a greater cross-country ability in comparison with machines equipped with wheels or tracks. Nevertheless, despite the expected high performance, walkers in every sense of the word have not yet been able to go beyond laboratories and polygons. The real possibilities of such a technique are affected by the complexity of the design and the numerous difficulties that arise during the development. Nevertheless, scientists do not stop working on promising technology with an unusual propulsion system.
Not so long ago it became known that Chinese specialists, among others, are engaged in the topic of walkers. Dai Jingsong and other employees of Nanjing University of Technology have been engaged in various studies of walking propulsion technology in recent years. One of the research topics is the study of the prospects for creating combat vehicles based on such platforms. To date, three scientific papers have been published, which describe the progress and results of the research. The articles are united by a common theme: they consider the problems of creating a combat vehicle with a walking propeller, carrying an automatic cannon.
As follows from the available data, three published articles deal with various aspects of a promising project. So, the first describes the design of the basic walking platform and combat module, the second examines the features of the use of computer-aided design systems in the development and testing of equipment, and the third is devoted to control systems of a walking machine that ensure the effective joint operation of various components.
In the published materials, the development of a combat walker is considered using the example of a prototype, which so far exists only in the form of blueprints. This is a platform equipped with a walking propulsion unit, a combat module with a cannon and supports for stabilization during firing. For obvious reasons, if the project is continued, the appearance of the car may seriously change. In addition, preparation for the production of a prototype may be the reason for additional changes.
The combat vehicle described by Chinese specialists has an original appearance, due to the use of a non-standard propulsion device. The basis of the machine is a rectangular box-shaped body, on which all the elements of the propulsion unit, a combat module, etc. are installed. The internal volumes of the body are given for the placement of various units. Probably, it is proposed to assemble the hull according to the classic tank scheme: the fighting compartment should be located in the middle of the hull, and the feed is given for the power plant units.
On the side surfaces of the body there should be eight support legs, four on each side. L-shaped legs are movably fixed on the body, their upper beam can move in horizontal and vertical planes. Thus, when the machine is moving, the mechanic must raise the leg, carry it forward and lower it to the surface. By alternately raising and moving the legs, the machine can move both forward and backward. The speed of the machine should be changed by the speed of movement of the supports, the direction - by the different speed of movement of the legs of different sides or using specific algorithms for the joint work of mechanics.
Apparently, in the proposed form, the Chinese combat walker cannot fire from an automatic cannon without preparation. To stabilize the machine when firing, a lowering support is provided on the bottom in the front of the hull. Two folding outriggers are located in the aft part of the hull and in the stowed position lie on its roof. If necessary, they unfold and abut against the ground with openers, transferring to it the recoil of the implement and unloading the propeller.
The combat vehicle depicted in the published drawings carries an uninhabited weapon station, armed with a 30-mm automatic cannon. The combat module must be equipped with a number of necessary equipment that will allow you to monitor the situation, find and attack targets.
According to reports, the proposed walker has a total length of about 6 meters and a width (including the propeller) of about 2 m. The combat weight is unknown. Such dimensions make the aircraft transportable by air; it can be transported by military transport aircraft and heavy transport helicopters.
Of course, the proposal of the Chinese specialists is of great interest from a technical point of view. The walking propulsion unit, unusual for military equipment, should provide the vehicle with high cross-country characteristics on various types of surfaces, including rough terrain. Depending on some design features, such walkers can overcome more serious obstacles than wheeled vehicles, approaching or surpassing tracked vehicles in their characteristics.
However, walking machines are not without all sorts of disadvantages. First of all, it is the complexity of the mover. This minus is characteristic of all walkers, including those proposed by Chinese scientists. In the design of the undercarriage of a promising machine, it is proposed to use eight complex units at once, which include various drives, sensors and other equipment. This situation is complicated by the need to use a special control system, which must independently assess the position of the machine in space, monitor the position of the support legs and control their operation in accordance with the driver's commands.
It can be seen that the staff of the Nanjing University of Technology has to some extent reduced the complexity of the walking propeller. The published diagrams show that complex drives are available only on the upper legs. The lower parts of the supports, apparently, are made in the most simple form. This allows to simplify the design of the machine and the control system, but limits the passability. First of all, the ability to overcome obstacles worsens, the maximum height of which is noticeably reduced. In addition, the lack of adaptive supports limits the steepness of the climbed and the maximum roll of the machine.
In fact, in the presented form, the Chinese combat walker can effectively move only on roads, for example, in urban environments. With certain restrictions, the machine can work in other areas, both on the plains and in the mountains. In this case, however, one should take into account the features of the propulsion device and the associated limitations. The use of a 30-mm automatic cannon will allow the vehicle to provide fire support to troops in direct collision with the enemy.
For obvious reasons, now it is only possible to study the published information, draw conclusions and predict the development prospects of the Nanjing Technological University. For some rather long time, the proposed combat walker will remain an exclusively experimental project aimed at studying the features and prospects of such a technique. As for the combat module with an automatic cannon, it is most likely used exclusively as an attribute of a combat vehicle, allowing a more complete study of the prospects for such technology.
The Chinese project of the combat walker is of great interest, but its prospects are at least ambiguous. Scientists all over the world have been actively engaged in such a technique for the past several decades, but even the most successful samples have not yet been able to get out of the prototype test stage. For all its interesting features, the Chinese development is unlikely to be able to break such an unpleasant "tradition". Moreover, it can generally remain at the stage of creating drawings and theoretical study of the concept.
Nevertheless, the very fact of the existence of the combat walker project may indicate that China is engaged not only in projects that may be useful in the near future. Chinese specialists are also interested in promising areas. At the same time, however, one should not forget that the topic of walkers is very complex and therefore one should not assume that Chinese scientists will be able to quickly and successfully complete existing and promising projects in this area.
