Pentagon offers $1 million prize for power packs
By James W. Crawley, Jul 27, 2007
Source: scnow.com
http://www.scnow.com/midatlantic/scp/news.apx.-content-articles-FMN-2007-07-27-0022.html
Calling all inventors: Build a better power source for soldiers and the Pentagon will beat a path to your door. And, pay you a cool $1 million. To lighten the heavy load of batteries carried by troops to power radios, night-vision goggles, satellite navigation units, laptops and other electronics, the military is offering prizes for building the best wearable power pack. Oh, and it has to supply the juice for four days and weigh less than 9 pounds.
Second prize garners $500,000, and third place takes home $250,000.
“We seek innovators — the best and the brightest minds — to apply their creative talents to this challenging opportunity,” William Rees, a deputy under secretary of defense, said. Batteries, solar cells, biomechanical, fuel cells, “Star Trek’s” dilithium crystals, whatever works — and meets contest rules — are fair game for 21st century Thomas Edisons.
The key factors are power output and weight. The winning entry must produce 20 watts of electricity for 96 continuous hours with power surges of as much as 200 watts — equivalent to two incandescent light bulbs — for several five-minute periods. Like many innovations, war will be the mother of this invention.
The weight soldiers carry into battle has risen markedly. Currently, troops on patrol might carry 20 pounds or more of batteries. That’s in addition to body armor, weapons, ammo, water and food. One person’s battle gear can weigh as much as 70 to 100 pounds. The Pentagon wants to lighten the load.
It’s not as if the Defense Department hasn’t tried to solve the power vs. weight problem. But past research has made only small steps. Winning the wearable power contest won’t be easy. Regular batteries weigh too much to meet contest requirements. Solar cells don’t work well on cloudy days or at night. Nuclear reactors are too heavy — and then there’s that pesky radiation danger.
“Based on what we’ve seen thus far, the (contest) … is a high bar,” Rees said. “The payoff for the troops on the battlefield is greater capability. The payoff justifies the risk,” he added.
For the official contest rules, visit the Defense Research and Engineering Web site:
www.dod.mill/ddre/prize/.