The military is normally the first to build or snag cutting-edge technology, so it’s no surprise that our soldiers are now carrying so many electronic devices that they practically jingle with the batteries they pack to power everything. On a typical three-day mission, one soldier will carry anywhere from 10 to 13 pounds of batteries alone. This weight, especially when combined with the weight for essentials like food, water, and weapons and ammunition, can drastically affect a soldier’s mobility—not to mention it makes them dependent on their supply of batteries. Luckily, Army head honchos have proposed an intriguing new solution: solar panels.
The military is currently investing in a project to make wearable solar panels that, when combined with new bionic knee braces, can harness energy from sources like the sun and its stored kinetic energy in order to recharge their
devices, rather than three packs of bulky and clumsy batteries.
Solar panels could be added to the uniform
It’s certainly a remarkable idea, and a literal lifesaver: regular convoys have to go out in order to resupply their fellow soldiers with the batteries they need to complete their missions. The flexible solar panels can be woven right onto military uniforms, and could generate around 18 watts of power per hour, according to the design being developed by wearable electronics company MC10 and the military.
There are also projects in place to fit soldiers with bionic knee braces, that will harness the bionic power in the wearer’s knee joint as they move. The braces have little to no actual medical value but are designed not to impede mobility. An individual brace could produce anywhere from 10 to 12 watts of power ever hour. That’s enough to charge three smartphones.
The brace is then hooked into a power manager, which will recharge the batteries in soldiers’ devices in order to power them. When combined with the wearable solar panels, these two technologies could make a significant impact. Instead of carrying pounds of batteries, soldiers might be able to only carry a set of two extra rechargeable batteries.
However, each project still has hurtles to overcome. The solar panels have to blend in with existing camouflage, and can’t flash in the sun or give off enough heat to alert enemies. The design of the knee brace, being developed by company Bionic Power and the military, still has to be finalized.
There’s currently no timetable for when these devices will be finished, let alone put into use, but they are certainly a giant step forward towards the military’s goal of “net zero,” where they will create devices that can generate enough power to make backup batteries totally unnecessary.
Source Mashable
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