#33 PODS and RAIL: Versatile ramp system aids expedient deployment of military equipment

ERDC and the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Ground Vehicle Systems Center (GVSC) collaborated in 2016 to develop a transportable ramp system that could be used to rapidly restore a damaged pier. The components from the Pier Over-Decking System (PODS) were later redeveloped into the Rapidly Available Interface for trans-Loading (RAIL) system, which can be used to load/unload armored vehicles from a train without the need for a fixed railyard facility. That system has since been repurposed for new uses, such as enabling gap crossings as a vehicle-launched bridge and serving as a foundation for Arctic infrastructure. We talk about the versatile PODS and RAIL system with ERDC’s Justin Strickler and August Johnson and GVSC’s Ashley Genna. Strickler, ERDC’s lead technical director for the Military Engineering Research and Development Area, and Johnson, a research mechanical engineer, are both based at ERDC’s Geotechnical and Structures Laboratory. Genna is a project engineer with the bridging team at GVSC. Topics discussed include how the system began and how it has evolved (1:52), how its versatility is meeting a need for the Warfighter (5:01) and the collaboration between ERDC and GVSC (9:39). We also talked about the system’s use as a vehicle-launched bridge (24:13) and a foundation for Arctic infrastructure (16:30), as well as its recent deployment to the United States Indo-Pacific Command (21:28). Watch a video of this podcast on our website at www.PowerofERDCPodcast.org/33-pods-and-rail_video. You can also see additional resources about the system, including photos, at www.PowerofERDCPodcast.org/33-pods-and-rail_resources. For inquiries about the PODS/RAIL system, email [email protected]. For more information on the Power of ERDC podcast, visit https://www.PowerofERDCPodcast.org.