Two proposals have been approved for funding under the latest ISTVS Small Research Grant Program (issued at the end of 2025) and are now initiating their activities. These awards support collaborative, community-driven efforts aimed at advancing terrain–vehicle interaction science, with a focus on terrain characterization, mobility performance, and the development of shared methods and tools for the terramechanics community.
1. Terrain Characterization and Performance Evaluation in Off-Road Mobility: Establishing a New ISTVS Working Group
Proposers:
Prof. Mehari Tekeste, Iowa State University (Ames, Iowa, USA)
Dr. Thomas Way, USDA-ARS National Soil Dynamics Laboratory (Auburn, Alabama, USA)
This project formally initiates the activities of the new ISTVS Working Group on Terrain Characterization, announced in July 2025. The Working Group aims to strengthen community collaboration on the measurement, interpretation, and application of terrain properties for off-road mobility analysis and modeling.
The Working Group chairs will engage with the terramechanics community to invite participation from researchers, practitioners, and students interested in advancing terrain characterization methods and establishing shared practices within ISTVS.
2. Terramechanics and Gaming
Proposers:
Dr. George L. Mason, PhD, PE, Retired Research Professor, Center for Advanced Vehicular Systems (CAVS), Mississippi State University, USA
Burhman Q. Gates, BS EE, Research Electronics Engineer, U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC), Mobility Systems Branch
This project explores the intersection of terramechanics and interactive simulation environments (“gaming”) as a means of enhancing understanding, communication, and dissemination of off-road mobility concepts. The effort seeks to leverage simulation-based and interactive approaches to support education, outreach, and potential research tool development within the ISTVS community.
Outlook
Updates on these grant-funded projects, including those awarded in October, will be presented at the upcoming 56th ISTVS Conference. These initiatives reflect ISTVS’s continued commitment to advancing terrain–vehicle systems science and promoting collaboration across academia, industry, and government for the benefit of environmental protection, energy conservation, and sustainable development.