Human Electric Power Suit Needed
by Jeremy Elton Jacquot, Los Angeles on 07. 6.07
Fancy yourself an electronics-minded inventor? Well, here's your chance: John Young, the Pentagon's Director of Defense Research and Engineering, just announced a public prize competition to develop a wearable "electric power system" for soldiers. The grand prize: $1 million (with $500,000 for second place and $250,000 for third place). Here are the guidelines:
"The essential electronic equipment that dismounted warfighters carries today - radios, night vision devices, global positioning system - runs on batteries. This competition will gather and test the good ideas for reducing the weight of the batteries that service members carry. The prize objective is a wearable, prototype system that can power a standard warfighter’s equipment for 96 hours but weighs less than half that of the current batteries carried. All components, including the power generator, electrical storage, control electronics, connectors and fuel must weigh four kilograms or less, including any attachments.
Prizes will be awarded to the top three teams in a final competitive demonstration planned for the fall of 2008. At this “wear-off,” individuals or teams will demonstrate their prototype systems under realistic conditions. The top three competitors that demonstrate a complete, wearable system that produces 20 watts average power for 96 hours but weighs less than 4 kilograms (~8.8 lbs) will win the prizes.
A public information forum will be held in September in the Washington, D.C. area to brief potential competitors on the technical details, the competition rules, and qualification requirements. Competitors must register to participate in the prize program by Nov. 30, 2007. The competition is open for international participation; however the individual or team leader must provide proof of U.S. citizenship. Details on the forum, as well as contest registration and rules are posted on the Defense Research and Engineering Prize Web site http://www.dod.mil/ddre/prize."
Let the most energy efficient design win!
Via ::Wired: Million Dollar Power Contest (blog), ::DoD Announces "Wearable Power" Prize Competition (press release)
See also: ::US Approves $20 Million Annual Grant For Joint US/Israel Renewable Energy Projects, ::"Unexpected Green" Finalist: US Army Rechargeable Batteries, ::Hybrids Could Replace Army's Humvees
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body heat stirling engine and I claim my $1,000,000.
I think its going to be a combination of technologies. Something in the helmet/hat to generate a bit og juice from heat (since heat rises and you loose most from your head). Something that generates electricity from movement and then some peizoelectric generation from the bottoms of the boots. Then sew in patches of flexible solar and some of the newest lighest lithium polmer batteries you can find.
It seems that developing powerd exoskeleton suits for solders to make them more powerful is like making men into the image of an insect which lives in a world governed only by the violent survival laws of nature. I would think that men could spend their efforts rising above this type of effort where the ultimate purpose of such as suit would be to make the fighting dominance of the solder ever stronger.
We can do many things but the real question is should we do them.
adrianakau2aol.com
Turbine to catch the hot air being blown at the soldier from politicians... "The WMDs are around here somewhere, keep searching!".
That's gotta be 20 watts, at least ;) .
Seriously though, 20 watts * 96 hours = bit shy of 2000 watt hours. At 12 V, that's 160 Amp-hours in under 4 Kg...that's pretty nice power density (if you're thinking of it in terms of the battery or fuel direction, rather than passive collection from human body movement).
John Young can go screw himself, along with the rest of the maniacal warlords from Pentagon.
At some point Popular Science started to publish lots of stuff about military equipment and other human murdering crap ... That's when I canceled my subscription.
I like Tree Hugger, and it would be sad to let it go ...
TO JOHN SMITH
KISS MY ASS
I have fought for many peoples rights including yours.Only to be bashed at home.Do you think that magical fairies fight wars?Who defend you when you sleep?I still have friends in Iraq and afgan.Any technology that keeps me or my friends alive i will use.The useless pricks in charge.Wont allow us to do it right.And finish it once and for all.The little cowards plant roadside bombs.Sit and watch.When the right target comes along.BOOM.
You go fight and die instead.
Former soldier
Adrian Akau
Try reading the article instead of forming an opinion from a picture. This contest is about lightening the pack load of our soldiers not about giving them super strength.
I laughed when i read this artical. i have a passive power system that i have been using for the last 6 months. im not telling you what it does, what it weighs or what it even looks like. i dont support MASS MURDER (Wars) for people who only see the profit of death. why not focus on removing poisonous vehical omissions.. Stop killing people whos only crime is having OIL!!!!!!!!!!