We're the Military and Airpower Guys of Jonah Goldberg of National Review Online + a stray we found wandering around looking lost. All original material JHD, BHD, JR, WT, and KA 2003-2007 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/07/somebody_ring_u.html Wed, 03 Dec 2008 12:58:43 Z Movable Type 4.12 en Copyright 2008 http://www.rssboard.org/rss-specification 'Bout time they moved on this topic. I've been involved in the evaluation of some of this new gear we're developing for the troops - and just loading these guys with current-tech batteries isn't doing the job. DoD Announces "Wearable Power" Prize Competition The Director, Defense Research and Engineering, John Young today announced a public prize competition to develop a wearable electric power system for war fighters.The competition will take place in the fall of 2008 and the prizes are $1 million for first place, $500,000 for second place and $250,000 for third place. The essential electronic equipment that... http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/07/somebody_ring_u.html http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/07/somebody_ring_u.html Fri, 06 Jul 2007 10:12:14 -0600 I would appreciate some detailed information on the two accompanying photos. They are virtually perfect examples of why DDR&E offered this prize. Photos of battery charging, exchange, disposal, shipping in any active theatre would also be welcome. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/07/somebody_ring_u.html#comment-62046 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/07/somebody_ring_u.html#comment-62046 Mon, 09 Jul 2007 12:15:20 -0600 How about a battery generator that attaches to the muzzle like a fire through rifle grenade and then use blanks or live rounds? Not completely practical on a quiet patrol but everything will be powered up when the shooting starts. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/07/somebody_ring_u.html#comment-62024 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/07/somebody_ring_u.html#comment-62024 Mon, 09 Jul 2007 03:17:47 -0600 I am perfect, this I know. Bad Cat Robot told me so. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/07/somebody_ring_u.html#comment-61977 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/07/somebody_ring_u.html#comment-61977 Sat, 07 Jul 2007 22:48:41 -0600 You know, BCR, I was going to write something funny about you and a pocket reactor earlier before I went serious about the whole "kinetic energy" thingy. that is just too funny http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/07/somebody_ring_u.html#comment-61956 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/07/somebody_ring_u.html#comment-61956 Fri, 06 Jul 2007 17:30:03 -0600 I dinna t'ink we wants a perpetually powered BCR. Look what she did the JTG. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/07/somebody_ring_u.html#comment-61954 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/07/somebody_ring_u.html#comment-61954 Fri, 06 Jul 2007 15:10:54 -0600 *purrrrrrrr* If I could just figure out how to harness the energy in things grunts have a semi-infinite supply of, this would be easy. (That is, cursing, griping, paperwork, and delays.) They didn't like my pocket reactor idea either. Picky.]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/07/somebody_ring_u.html#comment-61953 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/07/somebody_ring_u.html#comment-61953 Fri, 06 Jul 2007 15:07:40 -0600 Shoot - that first picture looks like my office. AND my kitchen (we plug the cell phones and PDAs and iPods in down there). I'll hafta see if MacGyver wants to join in this competition. I like the kinetic energy system idea. Makes sense. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/07/somebody_ring_u.html#comment-61952 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/07/somebody_ring_u.html#comment-61952 Fri, 06 Jul 2007 14:46:32 -0600 PS...obviously, if you develop a kinetic energy with solar back up model, the battery might not need to be so gigantic. maybe it could even store energy for a short period of time in order to reduce the load since it is probably that a soldier or other energy source would be charging this battery continually through kinetics or solar. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/07/somebody_ring_u.html#comment-61949 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/07/somebody_ring_u.html#comment-61949 Fri, 06 Jul 2007 13:50:25 -0600 I suggested it at the milblogs and I am suggesting it here. Doesn't it seem like there should be a kinetic energy charger? I mean, like those watches and flashlights and other simple machines that take the movement of the wearer or user and translates it into power that is stored in some very small batteries. It seems that a soldier would create enough energy on a regular patrol to recharge the battery/batteries. My thoughts are that they carry a lot of gear that is already strapped to parts of the body. We should be able to integrate or through simple velcro attachments to each limb to enhance and collect the amount of kinetic energy available. Develop a small, portable, flexible solar panel that could be used to collect solar energy during static or downtimes. This should be quickly collapsible (like those nifty freesbies or dog dishes you can collapse with one hand and stick in your pocket). The battery, of course, is the real issue here. One that is light and stores energy for at least 24 hours, assuming that there will be constant movement or other times to charge the battery through these two systems over a longer period. This flat battery should be thin or thinner than the back up battery sources used for a laptop. Another good example would be one of those little battery packs for your cell phone that give you an extra boost of power over a short period of time. Something like that as an emergency back up for some of the gear might be useful. I understand the major issue here is the actual equipment takes a huge amount of energy to operate. Like the radio for instance. The battery must not only be light, collect and store energy, but must put out enough power to actually support the equipment. I am looking forward to seeing what they create. I really think someone should be looking strongly at kinetic energy. That, besides solar power, is the most available resource on a battle field. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/07/somebody_ring_u.html#comment-61948 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/07/somebody_ring_u.html#comment-61948 Fri, 06 Jul 2007 13:43:06 -0600 They should offer a separate award: $5MIL for the qualifying systems under 2Kg. I would guess that the 96hr/4Kg standard represents an assessment of current capabilities, and thus not much pressure on technological capabilities. Cheers http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/07/somebody_ring_u.html#comment-61947 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/07/somebody_ring_u.html#comment-61947 Fri, 06 Jul 2007 13:29:22 -0600