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FEATURE


POWER POWERING MILITARY EQUIPMENT


ON THE BATTLEFIELD With the number of electronic devices used by military personnel increasing, power has become one of the most important


considerations for soldiers on the modern battlefield. Robert Brown, marketing


executive at military battery manufacturer Ultralife Corporation, comments


squadron. But, asmass-production ofmilitary devices ramped up, individual soldiers were given their own radios and scopes, along with electronic sights, laptop computers, communications gear and rangefinders, and a range of batteries was a necessity. In fact power has become one of the most important considerations for soldiers on the modern battlefield.


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THE LAND WARRIOR PROGRAM Soldiers on deployment aimto be self-sustaining for up to 72 hours, but the power demands for this are huge. Take, for example, the PRC-154 Rifleman Radio, which has a battery life of seven hours. Each battery weighs 0.8lb (0.36kg), so a 72- hourmission requires 8.8lb (3.99kg) of batteries just for that one radio.When you consider all the


n the 1970s, soldiers had few items requiring batteries – usually a short range radio and a night vision scope shared between the


other equipment that is needed, soldiers are carrying around 15 to 20 pounds (6.80kg to 9.07kg) of batteries just for one mission. Added to this, a report from 2013


suggested that ‘In a typical 72-hour mission in Afghanistan, U.S. soldiers carry seven types of batteries’, and resupplying this number of batteries effectively is a logistical nightmare. This is why Ultralife participated in the Land Warrior program. Although this program sought to modernise


military kits in general, Ultralife’s focus was on battery technology and how to address these issues. The solution was that, instead of each military device needing its own power supply, one or two batteries could be used to power themall. To achieve this, a soldier powermanager (SPM) is used to connect all the devices to the shared batteries and distribute power as and where it is needed. As less batteries are required, this eases


MANUFACTURING AN ALL-ELECTRIC JET ENGINE


Dunfermline based Mako Aerospace has teamed up with the National Manufacturing Institute Scotland (NMIS), operated by the University of Strathclyde, to manufacture the world’s first all-electric jet engine, which could double the range of electric aircraft compared to current hybrid models. Headed by University of Strathclyde graduates Kieran Duncan and Pia Saelen, Mako is on a


mission to realise aircraft electrification using a lighter andmore efficient electric jet engine, called The Forerunner, which aims to reduce fuel costs by 70% compared to a traditional turboprop engine. Tapping into the vast potential of superconductors, NMIS engineers are involved in wide


ranging research exploring how the technology could play a significant role in achieving a fully electrical commercial flight. The team is supported by experts from The University of Strathclyde’s Department of


Electronic and Electrical Engineering (EEE) and the Future Electrical Machines Manufacturing (FEMM) Hub, which is bringing together leading research expertise in electrical machines and manufacturing to put the UK at the forefront of green energy. The University of Strathclyde’s Advanced Forming Research Centre (AFRC), part of NMIS and


the UK’s High Value Manufacturing (HVM) Catapult, is providing engineering and manufacturing expertise while also introducing potential supply chain partners from across its network with a view to eventually manufacturing the engines in Scotland. Kieran Duncan, founder and CEO ofMako Aerospace, said: “Partnering with the National


Manufacturing Institute Scotland was an obvious step forMako to help us bring the world’s first all- electric jet engine to life.We’re looking forward to a demonstration day in October, which will be used as a springboard to launch further exciting projects towards bringing about sustainable aviation.”


Mako Aerospace www.mako-aerospace.com 10 DESIGN SOLUTIONS SEPTEMBER 2022 NMIS www.nmis.scot


the burden on the supply chain, but it also


addresses the weight problem. The lightest of these Land Warrior batteries weighs just 1.15lb (525g) and the heaviest weighs 2.25lb (1.02kg); meaning that even two batteries together weigh at most 4.5lb (2.04kg).


RELIABILITY But with less batteries, reliability became even more essential. With quality important, Land Warrior batteries are used in many current and future military programs. For example, when it comes to reliability, SMBus or SBS compliant fuel gauges provide accurate state-of-charge information to the user, keeping themaware of howmuch power they have left. For safety, all six hip-mountable batteries contain SMART CIRCUIT electronics to provide protection against over-or- under voltage, temperature fluctuations and short circuiting. Finally, the batteries have a high performance to weight ratio, boasting gravimetric energy densities of up to 206Wh/Kg. It is important to consider ergonomics that go


beyond weight. Although most batteries in the LandWarrior range are placed on the hip in the traditional manner, one battery was designed to be placed over the chest armour to distribute weight across the soldier and contour to the shape of the body. This is a more comfortable prospect than a straight-edged battery pack and means that valuable space is freed up on the hip, which can be used to store critical equipment (such as handheld communication devices). Advances in military technology show no


sign of slowing down, and batteries must evolve to see the increasing number of military devices being manufactured.


Ultralife Corporation T: 01782 566688 www.ultralifecorporation.com


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