According to the Daily Mail in the UK, scientists are developing a portable new type of solar battery that is 50% lighter than the battery pack currently carried by British soldiers.
The two-year "solar soldier" project aims to produce a combination of solar cells and thermoelectric devices, which can be used after it is stored. The research team is composed of 15 scientists and researchers from 6 British universities. At the same time, they also manage, store, and use the heat generated by the device. The six British universities are: Glasgow University, Loughborough University, Strathclyde University, Reed University, Reading University and Brunel University.
Professor Duncan Gregory of the University of Glasgow said: “Infantry requires current when using weapons, radios, global positioning systems, and other vital equipment on the battlefield. Most of the new battery packs are of varying degrees of weight. In order to reduce the size of the battery pack and reduce its weight, it is reported that the weight of equipment currently carried by infantry is 45-70 kg, while the weight of the battery pack is only 10%. .
By increasing effectiveness and comfort, this new type of battery is of great importance for ensuring the effectiveness of military operations. At the same time, it will also enhance mobility. Gregory pointed out that the thermoelectric device can convert heat into electricity. This heat can come from the sun. When the sun is sunny during the day, the energy can be stored and used at night. This latest concept can collect storage energy for use in supercapacitors and lithium batteries.
As far as we know, there is no integrated system of this type in the world today. The "solar soldier" project was designed in December last year and it received £ 650,000 in funding from the UK Ministry of Defense and the Engineering Physics Council (EPsrc).
Gregory, head of the new thermoelectric battery design and research group, said: “We plan to achieve prototype production of the battery within two years. At the same time, we expect this technology to be applicable to more fields and have different uses. This may be to power space satellites. Another possibility is to transport medicines or supplies to the affected areas at low temperatures, or to supply fresh food in difficult economic conditions and harsh climates."
The new battery pack will also absorb the energy of all the electromagnetic spectrum, making infantry less prone to be detected by infrared technology night vision devices. At the same time, it can also increase the duration and distance of infantry military operations without having to return to the base for recharging. The research team also received support from the Defense Science and Technology Laboratory, which also studied what type of equipment was suitable for assembly on soldiers' uniforms.
