Lightweight solar panels can be worn by soldiers in combat
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Rugged, lightweight solar panels suitable for infantry soldiers to wear in combat have been developed by the Australian National University (ANU).
Infantry soldiers are increasingly being equipped with electronic devices to enhance their close-combat tactical awareness and survivability as part of the Australian Defence Force soldier-modernisation programme, said Dr Igor Skryabin, development manager for the project.
‘Currently soldiers are dependent on electrical power provided by a conventional battery to power these devices,’ said Skryabin. ‘Each battery has a different endurance and reliability level and each rechargeable type requires its own kit, compounding the bulk and weight that needs to be carried.’
Wearable lightweight solar panels have been developed by the ANU Centre for Sustainable Energy Systems as part of an AUS$2.3m (£1.47m) Capability and Technology Demonstrator (CTD) contract with the Australian Department of Defence.
The so-called SLIVER solar-cell technology developed by ANU is now being commercialised by Transform to form the basis of the wearable solar panels. The team claims its SLIVER cells are around the thickness of a piece of paper and constructed to be rugged and flexible with a high power-to-weight ratio. The cells are also bi-facial, allowing modules to be constructed that allow light to be absorbed from both faces.
‘While battery-technology research has delivered considerable improvements, the goal of a small, lightweight power-storage system, capable of sustaining all electronic equipment for the whole time a soldier is in the field, is not yet available,’ said Skryabin.
‘The development of these wearable solar cells will now allow soldiers to generate power in the field and reduce the need for batteries for their electronic devices. They will also establish a power supply that keeps electronic devices operational throughout the duration of missions,’ he added.
Readers' comments (7)
Jeremy | 15 Aug 2011 2:31 pm
Bi-facial solar cells - sounds interesting ... as a opposed to two-faced which are the type the politicians will be using ;-)
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Peter Bessey FCSD | 15 Aug 2011 3:24 pm
So our future soldiers may resemble Elizabethans,Triceratops or even Pterasaurs perhaps, wearing their 2-sided panels as head-gear, collar ruffs or lines of 'sails' along their back to provide the correct exposure conditions needed for these new solar collectors? More seriously, maybe these could be small enough to conform into leaf/branch net forms so that they act as camouflage too?
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Nick Deakin | 15 Aug 2011 4:22 pm
Errm, bold claims. I suspect there are wider factors that need to be addressed. Soldiers have to carry a lot of electrical kit, the ability to trickle charge equipment while out on patrol is a big advantage. However, I have as yet only seen solar technologies implemented on a substrate (that could be a flexible substrate) and herein may represent the issue. Unless the substrate is breathable allowing sweat to be evaporated and cool the dismounted soldier, then this is a major problem! Overheating/rashes are a complete no-no. Similarly, solar panels are normally blue or black, which doesn't fit in with the current camouflage pattern any NATO forces are using in dessert type operations (I must confess I've seen some colourful silicon cells but unfortunately they are not flexible, I just wonder if a colour coating could be applied in a DPM).
Unless the first issue can be resolved they cannot easily be used on skin facing clothing as the article suggests. Unless the second issue can be resolved they are of no practical use if worn (they present a signature issue). If someone could address the above they might be onto something, if so, they may wish to apply to the MoD Centre for Defence Enterprise for funding. Good luck!
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Paul Hallett | 15 Aug 2011 4:54 pm
will this make them easier to see with IR vision system??
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Hardip Bansal | 16 Aug 2011 9:04 am
Night time missions are now cancelled I suppose?
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Craig Marquis | 16 Aug 2011 11:06 am
Piezo electric rubber in the boots- lightweight and generates power with every step.
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chris rowe | 22 Aug 2011 6:57 am
I like the way everything is termed 'light weight' for the soldier...its all collective! Please can all you propeller-heads (and I mean that with the greatest of respect!) get the weight of the other kit down before we load them with more kit ..ie the current issued kevlar jackets and helmets batteries, GPS, ammo, comms, medpacks etc! All your extra kit means that the soldiers personal kit gets left out..
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