FEATURE MILITARY & DEFENCE
POWERING MILITARY COMMUNICATION DEVICES
Communication plays a fundamental role in every industry. For the military, effective and reliable communication relies on a complex communication network of equipment, personnel and protocols to share information between multiple parties. Here, Michele Windsor, global marketing manager of military battery manufacturer Ultralife Corporation, explores how developments in battery technology can further advance military communication systems
he modern generation of technological systems for the military offer significantly reduced safety risks to operational soldiers. This is because the multiple devices available to infantry can provide much faster, richer and more flexible communications at a reduced cost than was previously capable. In fact, a 2016 global military spend report stated that $90.67bn was spent on command and control, communication, computer, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (C4ISR) and electronic warfare systems in 2016. One of the biggest, and often
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overlooked, issues for portable devices is that the power requirements are outgrowing existing power solutions. This is a concern because for network-centric environments like a military operation, data must be communicated at high capacity in real-time. Depending on the mission in hand,
soldiers can expect to be deployed for up to 72-hours. This means that each soldier is prepped with equipment that is able to last for at least this amount of time, if not for even longer, as reliable power sources are not always available. Therefore, accurate and extensive fuel
gauging of the device is also critical so that soldiers know when they need to charge their device, ensuring they do not fail in the middle of a warzone. This is particularly important as there can be unexpected extensions for soldiers between deployment operations. The growing list of battery operated applications that are used in the military in addition to communication devices includes ground sensors, miniature unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) and weapon systems. As manufacturers make more complex
devices, how the device will be powered should be an early consideration in the design process. Currently, this is not always the case and the demands of the device strain the power source’s capacity, resulting in a shorter life cycle per battery.
28 APRIL 2018 | ELECTRONICS
performance. This means creating a device where size, weight and power (SWaP) are fundamental in the design without jeopardising the quality. For example, many heavy-duty military
Figure 1: Soldier on deployment
The integration of regenerable power sources like Lithium-Ion battery technology into devices, which offer high energy density would be one possible solution. Proven to be a suitable alternative, both chemistries have replaced the traditional nickel-cadmium batteries (Ni-Cd) that was found to provide limited capability in extreme environments. For military use, soldiers need to use power sources that can withstand high and low temperatures to ensure they are equipped for deployment in any location.
POWER REQUIREMENTS Although demand for greater power is at the forefront of newly developed communication devices and military systems, keeping soldiers mobile and agile is a fundamental consideration to the design of modern technologies. The challenge for battery
Figure 3: Military radio
manufacturers is to create a battery that when attached, directly or indirectly, does not impact the soldier’s speed or
vehicles were originally designed so that the batteries fitted supplied just enough power to turn on the engine and operate any ancillary equipment. Today’s military vehicles, however, are designed to include the latest electronics and electrical advancements, including mission-critical sensors, communication devices and control systems.
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The rise of Industry 4.0 has significantly improved the amount of data that can be collected out in the battlefield. This has enabled the military to collect vast amounts of real-time data that can be pivotal to a winning strategy. This data collection has also been integrated into the next generation of wearable devices, which can monitor a soldier’s vital statistics. Designed to report any emergency or critical data, the device must be able to withstand any heavy impact or blow that the soldier could endure and still be able to accurately report back data. Device manufacturers need to power
their equipment with batteries that are designed for use, in tough and extreme weather environments. Ultralife, for example, has several battery ranges designed to operate effectively in temperatures varying from -32–60 0
C.
By considering the demands and requirements of a device, OEMs can integrate a suitable power source to ensure their device is combat-ready. Failure to deliver reliable equipment, particularly communication devices, could prove costly to an operation and, worse still, leave a soldier with only a homing pigeon for support.
Ultralife
www.ultralifecorporation.com T: +1 (315) 332-7100
/ ELECTRONICS
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