 |
|
| Science Forum Index » Research Forum » Final 20 Teams Compete For DoD $1M Wearable Power... |
|
Page 1 of 1 |
|
| Author |
Message |
| Michel... |
 Posted: Mon Sep 29, 2008 10:18 am |
|
|
|
Guest
|
Final 20 Teams Compete For DoD $1M Wearable Power Prize
Mon, 29 Sep 2008 14:34:00 -0500
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
IMMEDIATE RELEASE No. 819-08
September 29, 2008
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Final 20 Teams Compete For DoD $1M Wearable Power Prize
The final phase of the Department of Defense (DoD) Wearable Power
Prize competition began yesterday when 20 teams powered up their
systems at the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center in Twentynine
Palms, Calif. Large companies, small businesses and individual
inventors are vying for a $1 million top prize for producing a system
that will provide ground warfighters with lightweight, wearable power
for their combat equipment.
"I think this competition is a great opportunity," said Scott
Schoeffel, a member of finalist Team Ultralife, a Newark, NY company
that specializes in batteries and power solutions. "Having spent 10
years in Navy Special Operations Forces, I know what it's like to pack
several pieces of equipment that need rechargeable power. It's great
to see technology lightening the load of soldiers so they can be more
effective in the battlefield."
DoD launched the innovative competition in July 2007
by offering a $1 million first prize for a wearable system that
provides 20 watts (avg.) of electrical power for 96 hours, weighs less
than 4 kilograms (8.8 pounds), attaches to a standard military vest,
and operates autonomously.
University of Maine students and brothers Chris and
Brandon Look were one of 169 original entries to make it to the final
testing round. "Our dad is an engineer and owns a construction
company, so we've always been interested in anything mechanical," said
Brandon, who is a volunteer firefighter. "Chris serves in the Army
National Guard, so in a sense, we're both ground pounders. We know
from experience what might benefit the guys in the field."
After passing rigorous safety inspections yesterday,
each of the final 20 teams attached its prototype power system to a
nylon vest that is strapped to a mannequin to begin a 92-hour bench
test.
"Each prototype is now connected to a computer-
controlled load system," said Karen Burrows, a Power Prize competition
program manager. "We have many different kinds of batteries and fuel
cells being tested and some interesting power generators. On Thursday
morning as the teams complete the bench test, we fully expect to have
some prototypes still producing power above the minimum levels—those
teams will then compete head-to-head in a final field test on
Saturday."
The 4-hour field test will be held at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat
Center in Twentynine Palms, Calif., on Saturday Oct. 4. Beginning at 7
a.m. (PST), the base will be open to the public and media to view
exhibits and see finalists wearing their prototypes as they power
surrogate military equipment at nine stations in the final trial of
the competition.
Media can direct queries to Cmdr. Darryn James, DoD Public Affairs,
(703)-693-8287. More information on the Wearable Power Prize can be
found at: http://www.dod.mil/ddre/prize/final_event.html. A list of
the 20 final teams can be seen at the following link
http://www.defenselink.mil/news/d20080929wearable.pdf . |
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
|
|
All times are GMT - 5 Hours
The time now is Mon Mar 22, 2010 3:53 am
|
|