Technological trends in wheeled armoured vehicle from patent analysis

Abstract

This study analyzed the domestic and foreign patent applications and technology trends of wheeled armored vehicles. Patents for wheeled armored vehicles have been steadily filed since 2009. As the technology development of armoured vehicles has achieved maturity, this technology has entered stabilization period. The scope of patent technology search is to select patent documents from the five major patent application countries that have applied for a large number of patents globally in both quantity and quality, and the search focused on patents published and registered between 1990 and August 2019 using the WIPS ON program. In particular, the main technologies of wheeled armored vehicles, such as protection, mobility, firepower, and body technology, were analyzed. Technological trend data from patents can be used to create requirements for weapons systems. If technology trends are not sufficiently reflected when raising requirements for a weapon system, problems such as obsolete technology development and lack of operational effectiveness may occur, if an excessive required operational capability (ROC) is set without considering the technology, there is a risk that the target performance may not be reached, costs may be incurred and additional time may be needed. So, for the development of weapon systems, it is necessary to analyze the trends of major technologies and find promising technologies in the long term and of wheeled armored vehicles and the latest development trends of major countries are investigated, as well as the technical information necessary for the establishment of the maneuvering system, which is the cornerstone of Army TIGER 4.0.