DESIGN AND CONTROL IMPLEMENTATION ON AUTO-LOADER CONTROL UNIT OF TANK T-80UD

Abstract

The Role of Auto-loader in modern tanks is to control the complete operation of selection of type of ammunition, loading it into the gun and finally firing it. Although the main battle tank of Pakistan Army is its indigenously produced Al-Khalid, but tank T-80UD (Ukrainian Origin tank) is in service and has a large number on inventory of Pakistan Army. The tank T-80UD is a high-mobility tracked combat vehicle equipped with a reliable armour protection and high-power armament. The tank is designed for a wide range of combat missions. Owing to its high-power armament, it is capable of destroying enemy tanks, armored vehicles, manpower, ordnance and other types of targets. It is one of the latest technology tanks in service of different armies of the world. Pakistan Army is using this tank for the last about ten years and its fire power capability is remarkable due to its auto-loading system which makes it different from the other tanks which were in service before Al-Khalid was manufactured. it will remain the most numerous modern Main Battle Tank for Pakistan Army until surpassed by Al-Khalid production. Even after the mass production of Al-Khalid, it will continue to be in service in Pakistan Army as a key armoured asset for many years to come. The auto-loader serves for automatic gun loading and consists of mechanical, hydraulic and electric assemblies. It is a mechanical system to load the main armament and so eliminate one member (human loader) from the fighting vehicle's crew. An auto-loader is a mechanical aid or replacement for the personnel that load ordnance into crew-served weapons, such as tanks and artillery. This research investigates the malfunctioning of auto-loader of tank T-80UD and leads towards redesigning the electronics of Auto-loader of this particular Tank. The Control Unit (BU-43) is responsible for the electronics control implementation of auto-loader in tank T-80UD. This research includes the detailed study of existing technology being used presently, the redesigning of control unit on Micro-controller based system, and to develop a Working Test Bench for the auto-loader. This research project is an important step forward in the defence sector of Pakistan.