VEHICLE DYNAMICS GROUP, UNIVERSITY OF PRETORIA, SA
Off-road vehicles require high ground clearance, long suspension travel, and soft suspension to maintain traction and comfort on rough, soft terrain. However, these same features can reduce handling performance and rollover stability at higher speeds on smoother surfaces. Balancing these trade-offs requires a strong understanding of tire–terrain interaction, vehicle dynamics, and chassis control systems.
The session will conclude with updates on the 56th ISTVS Conference (October 11–15, 2026, Pretoria, South Africa) and the ISTVS Student Competition.
Read MoreThe ISTVS community mourns the passing of Iwan Wästerlund, former ISTVS President and a leading voice in forestry vehicle research and environmentally sustainable off-road mobility. His leadership, scholarship, and enduring sense of humor left a lasting mark on terramechanics and forest engineering worldwide.
Read MoreISTVS congratulates Sally Shoop on receiving the 2026 ASCE Can-Am Amity Award, recognizing her outstanding contributions to cold-regions engineering, vehicle mobility research, and international collaboration.
Read MoreWe are saddened to share the passing of Dr. Daniel R.P. Hettiaratchi, an early member of ISTVS and founding Assistant Editor of the Journal of Terramechanics.
A remembrance written by Jo Yung Wong reflects on his scientific contributions, academic career, and lasting impact on the terramechanics community.
Read MoreAs we welcome 2026, ISTVS reflects on a year of strong progress and collaboration. In 2025, the Society advanced key initiatives through an in-person symposium on terrain characterization and agricultural machinery, leading to the formation of a new working group focused on terrain testing instruments and best practices. Our annual conference in New Hampshire brought together a record number of participants and highlighted the growing importance of off-road vehicle autonomy through technical sessions, field demonstrations, and workshops—setting the stage for continued research, collaboration, and impact in the year ahead.
Read MoreISTVS invites proposals for its Small Research Grants Program supporting collaborative research that advances terrain–vehicle interaction and off-road mobility science. The call encourages community-driven efforts focused on terrain characterization, vehicle performance, and practical applications across diverse operating environments. Proposal deadline: December 31.
Read MoreHighlights and key moments from the 55th International Society for Terrain-Vehicle Systems (ISTVS 2025) Conference in Lebanon, New Hampshire — celebrating innovation, collaboration, and the future of mobility on all terrains.
Read MoreThe International Society for Terrain-Vehicle Systems (ISTVS) proudly recognizes Prof. Corina Sandu as a newly elected ISTVS Fellow for her outstanding contributions to terramechanics, off-road vehicle dynamics, and long-standing service to the society. Prof. Sandu’s pioneering research, leadership in education, and decades of dedicated involvement have advanced the global understanding of vehicle–terrain interaction and inspired a new generation of engineers in the field.
Read MoreNEVADA AUTOMOTIVE TEST CENTER (NATC)
Nevada Automotive Test Center (NATC) is a recognized leader in developmental and production tire testing for both commercial and military vehicle platforms, supported by a dedicated tire testing division. A long-time supporter of the ISTVS conference, NATC will present a talk focused on the critical mobility factors that influence ground vehicle performance. NATC website: https://natc-ht.com/
Read MoreMISSISSIPPI STATE UNIVERSITY
This talk will present simulations for vehicle mobility in deformable soils using Discrete Element Method (DEM) performed at the Center for Advanced Vehicular Systems, Mississippi State University. Results of the DEM simulations using coarse-scale DEM soil models to predict tractive performance of a wheel in deformable soils will be shown and compared with published experimental data and empirical relationships.
Read MoreThe ISTVS Board of Directors (BOD) invites researchers to apply for funding to support research & development activities where members will make a contribution in areas important to the domain of terrain-vehicle systems and terramechanics. Funding provided under the Small Research Grants program of ISTVS is not meant to cover the complete cost of a research project, but to be complementary to already existing funding of the proposers. The awarded funding under the program should be used to facilitate collaboration between multiple institutions such that real, tangible progress can be made on the chosen topic for the benefit of ISTVS.
Read MoreUNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE
Terramechanics and geomechanics are rarely considered early career paths. This talk traces the speaker’s journey from structural engineering to terramechanics, highlighting connections between fields and key project insights. It also details the path to securing an NSF CAREER Award and offers guidance for aspiring engineers and researchers. Terramechanics, focused on terrain–machine interaction, is vital for advancing autonomous systems in construction, mining, agriculture, and mobility.
Read MoreThe ISTVS Board of Directors (BOD) invites researchers to apply for funding to support research & development activities where members will make a contribution in areas important to the domain of terrain-vehicle systems and terramechanics. Funding provided under the Small Research Grants program of ISTVS is not meant to cover the complete cost of a research project, but to be complementary to already existing funding of the proposers. The awarded funding under the program should be used to facilitate collaboration between multiple institutions such that real, tangible progress can be made on the chosen topic for the benefit of ISTVS.
Read MoreThe ISTVS/ISU Symposium on Terramechanics in Agricultural Soil-Vehicle Systems was held on May 21, 2025, at Iowa State University (ISU) in Ames, Iowa. Organized by the International Society for Terrain-Vehicle Systems (ISTVS) in collaboration with ISU, the symposium aimed to enhance awareness of ISTVS as an international society in the field of vehicle-terrain systems. The event targeted undergraduate and graduate students interested in off-road vehicle systems, engineers in the agriculture and construction equipment industries, tire and track manufacturers, digital technology developers, and farmers.
Read MoreMOBILITY SYSTEMS BRANCH, ERDC, U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS
This talk will discuss the importance of sensors to autonomous ground vehicle mobility and some of the challenges involved in accurately modeling these sensors to provide useful data in modeling and simulation tools.
Read MoreISTVS Student Chapter at Virginia Tech at STEM Outreach event!!
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