In science fiction, soldiers have been empowered via everything from super-serums to exoskeletons, but recent research could arm them with the most powerful force we have: the sun.
True, every soldier (and other human) is already powered by that vast space-borne fusion reactor, but it has to be filtered through the photosynthesis of plants, the mastication of animals, and whatever awful things happen to both to create ration bars.
But now the Australian National University (ANU) is working on powering their equipment without all the middlemen. The Soldier Integrated Power System (SIPS) is a thin sheet which can be worn over the backpack to recharge equipment.
You might think a soldier’s most important supply issue is ammunition, but between batteries and bullets, batteries are more important, heavier, and used far more often. Unless you’re Rambo.
In real operations a radio is far more powerful than a rocket launcher. The modern civilian is already equipped with international communication capabilities, a GPS, and dozens of other informational apps. Now imagine how much more important those things are when it really is a matter of life and death.
We’ve got all kinds of technological gadgets, but in terms of technological progress batteries are the elephant in the room. And also in those gadgets. The bulky power pack is now the defining feature in building mobile electronics, both in size and weight, which means soldiers have to carry sets of spares to keep their equipment operating.
That’s where the SIPS steps in. No thicker than a sheet of paper, the new SLIVER solar panels harvest enough power to keep equipment charged even in overcast conditions, actively recharge batteries in bright sunlight, and was successfully tested over a 72-hour training mission.
The most exciting aspect is how this could improve energy efficiency for everyone. Technology has a history of being funded by the military – who can throw gigantic sums at anything they decide they need – and then escaping into the civilian sector, which likes to pay less for luxury.
And if it means keeping our phones from dying, these new sheets of solar material won’t just revolutionise the electronics industry, they could reshape our fashion and outdoor seating habits as well.
In science fiction, soldiers have been empowered via everything from super-serums to exoskeletons, but recent research could arm them with the most powerful force we have: the sun.True, every soldier (and other human) is already powered by that vast space-borne fusion reactor, but it has to be filtered through the photosynthesis of plants, the mastication of animals, and whatever awful things happen to both to create ration bars.But now the Australian National University (ANU) is working on powering their equipment without all the middlemen. The Soldier Integrated Power System (SIPS) is a thin sheet which can be worn over the backpack to recharge equipment.You might think a soldier’s most important supply issue is ammunition, but between batteries and bullets, batteries are more important, heavier, and used far more often. Unless you’re Rambo.In real operations a radio is far more powerful than a rocket launcher. The modern civilian is already equipped with international communication capabilities, a GPS, and dozens of other informational apps. Now imagine how much more important those things are when it really is a matter of life and death.We’ve got all kinds of technological gadgets, but in terms of technological progress batteries are the elephant in the room. And also in those gadgets. The bulky power pack is now the defining feature in building mobile electronics, both in size and weight, which means soldiers have to carry sets of spares to keep their equipment operating.That’s where the SIPS steps in. No thicker than a sheet of paper, the new SLIVER solar panels harvest enough power to keep equipment charged even in overcast conditions, actively recharge batteries in bright sunlight, and was successfully tested over a 72-hour training mission.The most exciting aspect is how this could improve energy efficiency for everyone. Technology has a history of being funded by the military – who can throw gigantic sums at anything they decide they need – and then escaping into the civilian sector, which likes to pay less for luxury.And if it means keeping our phones from dying, these new sheets of solar material won’t just revolutionise the electronics industry, they could reshape our fashion and outdoor seating habits as well.
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