At next week’s AUSA Annual Exposition the US Army’s new Small Tactical Universal Battery (STUB) series will be taking center stage at the EXO Charge booth (number 860 in Hall ABC).

But also featured will be two other products the company has developed to ease the Soldier’s battery burden, and deliver greater operational effectiveness for portable electronics at the tactical edge. These are the Augmented Power Pack (APP) and the Rugged Auxiliary Charger (RAC), and we are pleased to give you a sneak peek before the show, or in case you’re unable to attend.

Augmented Power Pack (APP) – being developed especially to meet the needs of Special Operations Forces operating in austere environments, the APP is like a multi-tool for power – or a power bank on steroids. The APP packs a whopping 300Wh of energy capacity into a rugged, water-resistant, streamlined form factor. It also features an NVG-compatible display screen for viewing important system information, such as state-of-charge and time-to-depletion. For optimum interoperability and flexibility, the APP features 2x USB Type-C® and 1x NETT Warrior connectors. In fact, the APP is specifically designed to charge multiple devices simultaneously, the APP uses USB Power Delivery (PD) with Programmable Power Supply (PPS) to provide faster and more efficient charging than typical power banks. As it is purpose-built for military use, the APP also has a better thermal signature than commercial power banks, and is finished in a flat dark earth color tone for visual mitigation as well.

Rugged Auxiliary Charger (RAC) – Small, powerful, light weight, and rugged, the RAC is a pocket-sized power force multiplier. The RAC can draw power from any A/C source and utilizes the latest in USB Power Delivery (PD), Programmable Power Supply (PPS), and Gallium nitride (GaN) semiconductor technology to provide fast charging of multiple devices or batteries simultaneously. The RAC can charge standard military battery types such as the 2590 and CWB, is compatible with bulk chargers such as ABC and UBC. With 1x SAE connector, 2x USB Type-C ports, and 1x NETT Warrior connector, the RAC delivers maximum power flexibility and interoperability. The RAC also features a rugged housing that minimizes its thermal signature, and is also finished in a flat dark earth color tone for visual mitigation.

To see and learn more, visit EXO Charge at AUSA (booth number 860, Hall ABC) and also visit EXO Charge on the web at www.EXOcharge.com and on social media at Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn.

There has been an order of magnitude increase in the number of electronic systems on the battlefield over the past 2 decades, and thanks to these systems, our Boots-on-the-Ground now have unmatched C5ISR capabilities at the tactical edge.

However, this increase in capabilities comes at the cost of an increased burden on the troops – as many spare batteries must be carried to keep systems operational. As a result, it is now common for Squad members to carry 20-40 pounds of spare batteries on a typical patrol – on top of all the other things they need to carry (such as food, water, ammunition, and clothing). As a result, the total individual load can often exceed well over 100 pounds.

Numerous studies have demonstrated the debilitating effect that such heavy loads have on the physical health and performance of our service members, as well as their operational effectiveness. But while much focus has been put on making gear and equipment lighter, there is still much room for improvement in reducing “the burden of power”.

As mentioned above, spare batteries make up the majority of the bulk and weight associated with the power burden. However, short of changing the Laws of Physics, what can be done to decrease the amount of spare batteries that troops need to carry to be operationally effective? Standardization and interoperability are two areas where step-change improvements can be made that will reduce the number of different, and often proprietary batteries, that don’t work across platforms.

The Small Tactical Universal Battery (STUB), which was featured last week, is a major step towards creating standardization, interoperability, and mission-adaptive power for the Warfighter. With eight different capacity and size options, plus eight different attachment methods, the STUB series reduces the Warfighter’s battery burden and provides unprecedented levels of interoperability and power commonality. The STUB is a significant step toward reducing complexity in the supply chain, easing logistics and reducing the battery burden on the troops.

A supporting avenue of approach is the incorporation of USB technology. Leveraging industry-standard USB protocols enables shorter product development cycles, reduces overall program cost, and simplifies training, logistics and support for end-users. The use of USB technology also brings advantages in terms of end-user familiarity and platform commonality and interoperability. USB technology also delivers weight savings and performance improvements over legacy military platforms and power sources.

Developing and delivering solutions that are purposefully-designed to provide power commonality and interoperability will certainly help ensure that every ounce counts. Incorporating globally-proven industry-standards and technologies will also help reduce the battery burden and enhance operational effectiveness for the Warfighter. These approaches also constitute a formula that can be implemented now to cost-effectively reduce the battery burden and extend the capabilities of tactical electronics.

Guest post by EXO Charge