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$1 Million Wearable Power Prize Goes to Power Cell

Posted 10/09/08 at 07:16:58 PM |  by Pulkit Chandna

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Many of the modern soldiers are currently saddled with battery packs that can weigh upto 20 pounds. The batteries, of course, are used to power the wide gamut of equipment that a modern soldier carries with him. However, the soldiers can now heave a sigh of relief as a wearable power system is soon going to replace the heavy batteries.

The team of America’s DuPont and Germany’s SFC Smart Fuel CellSFC Smart Fuel Cell has won the $1 million Wearable Power Prize organized by the Pentagon with its M-25 fuel cell. The M-25 weighs only 3.71 kilograms and can provide 20 watts of average power for 96 hours. The wearable system includes a fuel cell and a battery. The army has already begun using the system, though in a limited way.

Image Credit: TreeHugger

COMMENTS:
5
TAGS: 
battery, hardware, military, fuel cell, equipment, pentagon, army, m-25, wearable power prize
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COMMENTS
avatarWell one small step in keeping a soldier alive longer.

Submitted by zodi on Thu, 2008-10-09 22:58

Now if they created a system where the walking, running, and crawling motion would charge that nice cell it would be a lot more effective.

 

And a note on one of the other comments made.  Lighweight body armor would also help.  All the gadgets in the world ain't going to stop incoming rounds in your direction and its hard to use those gadgets when you got holes in ya.

 

Ask my dead guy in crysis.

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avatarI think maybe every soldier

Submitted by FusilliJerry82 on Thu, 2008-10-09 19:53

I think maybe every soldier having body armor is a higher priority than this?

An embarassment, this administration.

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avatarHow is this an Embarassment?

Submitted by weaslem32 on Thu, 2008-10-09 20:12

Actually, this is important. Think about their communication radios, mobile radar and other high tech battle gear that they use. This goes a long way to limit the weight of the batteries while providing a longer charge. It not like they are using this technology to power their ipods on the battlefield.

metropolis has you.

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avatarSolar

Submitted by maniacm0nk3y on Thu, 2008-10-09 19:17

Do they use solar? The only problem I would see is reflection giving off their location. But since it's considerably lighter they wouldn't need to go in that direction.

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avatarNo solar

Submitted by Gailim on Fri, 2008-10-10 06:13

assuming you put cells on the helmet and shoulders, not only would it reflect light but it wouldnt provide enough juice. not to mention its not reliable enough for military use

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