Pentagon Revs up Drive for Wearable Power
Date: 17-Sep-07
Country: US
Author: Jim Wolf
Those attending a Sept. 21 event in Washington will be able
to prod Army and Marine Corps officers for more information
about technical requirements and specifics on "battery burden,"
a department statement said.
"We're trying to tap into the American public's ingenuity,"
said Army Lt. Col. Brian Maka, a Pentagon spokesman. "We hope
the cash award will attract lots of interest and some great new
ideas."
The Defense Department announced in July it was seeking a
prototype system that can be attached to a vest and produce an
average of 20 watts for four full days while weighing less than
half the batteries now being lugged by US military personnel
in the field.
All components, including the power generator, electrical
storage, control electronics, connectors and fuel must weigh
8.8 pounds (4 kg) or less.
The military needs the power to run such individually
carried electronic gear as radios, night vision goggles and
satellite-navigation tools.
The contest's US$1 million first-place prize follows a
congressional measure enacted last year. It clarified the
defense secretary's authority to offer cash prizes for
innovations that could enhance US military clout.
The DARPA Urban Challenge is a similar prize competition
for driverless cars sponsored by the Defense Advanced Research
Projects Agency, the Pentagon's central research unit.
US- and foreign-owned companies are eligible to enter the
wearable power competition. Individual entrants must be at
least 21 and US citizens. Non-US citizens can take part as
members of teams led by US citizens.
First-, second- and third-place winners are to be announced
later this year.
Those wishing to attend the public information forum must
register by Sept. 17 at
http://www.dod.mil/ddre/prize/topic_wearpwr_forum.html#1.
