The military faces different challenges all over the world and many times, they are looking for solutions to these problems right here at home. Defense contractors, like Gale Banks Engineering, work with the government to design and engineer solutions for these challenges and produce problem solving parts. During the SEMA Show we caught a glimpse of some of that technology that is soon to be released to us, the general public from Banks Power!

Banks B-MADS (Banks Manifold Air Density System) is one of the more exciting new products that was shown during the show. The system monitors temperature, pressure and humidity throughout the entire intake system.

By monitoring these three things, density can be calculated. As we all know, air density is a HUGE factor in making power. The more oxygen we can pack into a given space (higher density) the more fuel we can introduce to the equation to make more power.

The way the system works is that there are sensors can be mounted before and after each major component in the intake system. The wires are all connected and communicate through Bank’s IQ-Net system (it’s a proprietary CAN Bus system). By being able to see the density, pressure and temperature before and after each part, it is possible to monitor each component’s efficiency. This is a much bigger factor with a boosted engine, but it will work with a naturally aspirated engine as well.

For turbo applications, you will now no longer need a wheel speed or shaft speed sensor. By being able to see the pressure and density before and after the charger, calculating its efficiency is pretty easy. This will let you know how the charger is performing in the real world. The same can be said for intercoolers, intake manifold designs, basically every aspect of the intake system can be refined using this system.

Banks initially developed this system to help with high altitude military vehicles and refined it while racing at Pikes Peak. This system can be paired with their new water methanol system for peak tuning and performance.

The B-MADS system is expected to be available in January – stay tuned for some more in-depth coverage right here on Diesel Army!