Inventors, Come to the Aid of Your Country
- 0
- Add a Comment
[Uncle Sam Wants You....but it isn't what you think]
The Department of Defense is asking all innovators to help their country by increasing the energy density of battery packs carried by our soldiers today.
Today’s soldier carries between 20 and 40 pounds of batteries in their backpacks, to power the high tech gear needed for duty. The batteries power a range of devices, including night vision goggles and GPS systems.
The DOD further states that many missions have soldiers carrying up to 100 pounds of equipment on their backs - hardly a day at the beach. The batteries are frequently outweighing the ammunition carried.
The inventor must able to create a battery pack that weighs 4 kilograms or less, and be capable of sustaining 20 watts output for 4 full days. It has to be able to be worn, in some fashion, rather than carried, and will be tested for all manner of problems and compatibility.
The competition will take place in fall 2008, so the Clyde Crashcups and Jimmy Neutrons of the world have plenty of time to get their thinking caps adjusted. In case doing something altruistic is not enough motivation, there is also prize money of $1,000,000 for the winning entrant.
[tags] Department of Defense, U.S. Army, invention, energy pack, contest [/tags]
