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Gathering of Minds – Helmet Mounted Battery Cell

Tuesday, September 10th, 2024

Gathering of Minds is a small business which makes cool 3D printed and textile products you didn’t think you needed until you see them.

Take for instance the Helmet Mounted Battery Cell which mounts to the rear of a helmet to serve as both counterweight and battery storage.

The lid features an O-ring for waterproofness and the container secures to the helmet with Velcro with a stainless steel braided cable back up. Additionally, it will accommodate a single Chemlight at the rear for marking.

The HMBC is currently offered in four models, each designed to carry a different load of batteries.

4 x AA

4 x CR-123A

AA/AAA/ 2 x CR-123A

2 x AA/ 6 x AAA

gomdesigns.com/products/gom-hmbc

Posted in Helmets, Power | 6 Comments »

NovaSpark Energy Corporation Wins Contract with United States Defense Innovation Unit for Groundbreaking Hydrogen Fuel Project

Sunday, September 1st, 2024

Houston, TX — NovaSpark Energy Corporation, an innovator of on-site hydrogen fuel and sustainable energy generation, is proud to announce it has been awarded a contract from the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) to develop a mobile hydrogen fuel generation solution. The partnership will focus on leveraging NovaSpark Energy’s “Air-to-Power” technology for next-generation defense applications and mobility.

In collaboration with the DIU, the project focuses on demonstrating advanced technology to further long-range deployment efforts across the globe,” said Andrew Mawdsley, DIU Program Manager for HyTEC, “This award is part of the mission of the DIU to enable access to commercially-derived disruptive capabilities across the entirety of the DoD enterprise.”

DOD mission partners for this project include the Marine Corps Expeditionary Energy Office (E2O) and Naval Information Warfare Center Pacific (NIWC PAC).

“We are not just innovating for today but shaping the future of energy technologies to support defense and commercial sector needs,” said Rick Harlow, Vice Chairman and co-founder of NovaSpark Energy. “Our involvement in this DoD project marks a significant step towards revolutionizing hydrogen fuel implementation across the nation and globally. We are proud to be working closely with the DIU on this project.”

Posted in Power, Press Release | Comments Off on NovaSpark Energy Corporation Wins Contract with United States Defense Innovation Unit for Groundbreaking Hydrogen Fuel Project

Air Force Awards $1.9M to Local Aerospace and Defense Group to Advance New Ballistic Conformal Battery Pack

Saturday, August 24th, 2024

Cornerstone Research Group, Inc. (CRG) has been awarded a $1.9 million Tactical Funding Increase (TACFI) contract from AFWERX, aimed at advancing the development, testing, and certification of its groundbreaking Ballistic Conformal Battery (BCB).

Engineered as a centralized, wearable power source, the BCB is designed to integrate seamlessly into body armor vests, delivering reliable energy to an array of critical devices, including modern radio systems, mobile devices, visual augmentation systems, sensors, and communication equipment.

Certification of the BCB is a critical milestone, ensuring the battery meets stringent safety, performance, and reliability standards necessary for military use. The process also validates the battery’s ability to operate effectively in demanding environments, providing assurance to military personnel who rely on this technology in the field.

“This TACFI funding will help us start fielding a product that will enhance soldier safety and operational capability,” said Brian Henslee, vice president of power systems at CRG. “We’re excited to get the BCB into the hands—and tactical vests—of those who need it most.”

By integrating advanced battery technology into body armor, the BCB reduces equipment size and weight while enhancing safety. Demonstrations of various BCB models have shown their ability to provide between 100 and 300 watt-hours (Wh) of power, along with customizable threat protection levels.

At the core of the BCB are CRG’s state-of-the-art battery cells, meticulously designed and manufactured at the company’s Miamisburg, Ohio headquarters. These cells are lightweight, deliver longer run times, and perform reliably even in extreme low temperatures. CRG’s commitment to a domestic supply chain not only strengthens the U.S. energy storage sector but also aligns with the priorities outlined in the Defense Production Act and National Defense Industrial Strategy.

www.crgrp.com

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ProTecBird Enables Successful Protection of the Red Kite Around Wind Turbines

Thursday, August 22nd, 2024

Rheinmetall supplies expertise in the field of air defence for the detection of protected bird species

With AI and sensor technology from ProTecBird and software from the military sector, Rheinmetall and ProTecBird want to ensure the protection of red kites around wind turbines and at the same time contribute to the energy transition. Both companies have now announced the successful demonstration of the effectiveness of the AVES Wind anti-collision system for the protection of red kites around wind turbines, which was developed by ProTecBird by integrating Rheinmetall technology. With this milestone, the young technology start-up from Husum, which is specialised in the development and manufacturing of economical and species-specific anti-collision systems, has now overcome a significant hurdle for the energy revolution in Germany in partnership with Rheinmetall.

The development of effective anti-collision systems (ACS) has been one of the biggest challenges in the operation of wind farms in areas with wind-sensitive bird species. The balance between technical feasibility and reliable species protection is of central importance for the planning processes in the construction of wind farms. With its AI-based AVES Wind anti-collision system, ProTecBird has succeeded in solving this problem by defining and demonstrating the requirements for an anti-collision system in terms of nature conservation, economics and technology for the first time. By doing so, the system offers an alternative to generalised shutdown regulations by providing a customised solution for wind farm-operators through species- and situation-dependent short shutdowns.

As one of the federal states with the most wind power, Schleswig-Holstein is a pioneer in the establishment of forward-looking standards for anti-collision systems and their integration into approval procedures. On behalf of the Ministry of Energy Transition, Climate Protection, Environment and Nature of the Federal State of Schleswig-Holstein (MEKUN, Ger. for Ministerium für Energiewende, Klimaschutz, Umwelt und Natur), a committee was convened in September 2022 to develop a testing framework under the direction of the State Office for the Environment SH (LfU, Ger. for Landesamtes für Umwelt). This committee, consisting of a team of consultants (TÜV NORD, the Office for Biostatistics), ACS and wind energy manufacturers as well as stakeholders from nature conservation organisations and wind energy associations, developed a comprehensive testing framework for the validation of ACS by the end of 2023. On 8 August 2024, Tobias Goldschmidt, Minister of Energy Transition, Climate Protection, Environment and Nature of the Federal State of Schleswig-Holstein, announced the first nationwide testing framework for anti-collision systems. The testing framework is currently being evaluated by other Federal States in Germany in order to incorporate it into their own area of responsibility.

The AVES Wind system from ProTecBird was tested at an existing wind farm between July and September 2023 in accordance with the requirements of the technical convention proposal “Test framework for anti-collision systems” (MEKUN 2024). A total of 237 red kite flight sequences were analysed at various sites on a total of 25 recording days: AVES Wind detects, recognises and protects the red kite in accordance with the specifications of the technical convention proposal (MEKUN 2024), meaning that the species protection requirements and the protective effect for the red kite are fully met by the ProTecBird anti-collision system.

“We are delighted to have our AVES Wind anti-collision system recognised, and are proud to be making a contribution to the energy revolution,” comments Thorsten Heinzen, CEO of ProTecBird. “The cooperation with the relevant players in Schleswig-Holstein was crucial for this breakthrough. The fact that ProTecBird was the first company to undergo and pass the officially defined testing framework highlights the company’s innovative strength and commitment. With its AVES Wind anti-collision system, ProTecBird has achieved a technological breakthrough that can be seen as disruptive for the wind energy industry,” continues Thorsten Heinzen. “We have created a clever networked system that utilises the existing wind farm infrastructure and further improves the effectiveness and sustainability of the generated wind energy”.

The solution of the AI-based AVES Wind anti-collision system is based on software developed by Rheinmetall Electronics GmbH, which was originally programmed for air defence in the military sector and is in use worldwide.

Rheinmetall uses an established software (Multi Mode Tracker) that can recognise and assign missiles via pixel changes on the horizon. Thanks to the further development of the software by ProTecBird and the use of the newly developed AI, different bird species, such as the protected red kite, can now be reliably recognised and tracked by the systems’ sensors. As a result, automated shutdown commands are sent to wind turbines, effectively preventing collisions between the animals and the rotor blades from a predefined distance between the bird and the wind turbine.

“The possible applications go far beyond the original military field,” explains Uwe Lindenau, Sales Manager Mission Systems at Rheinmetall Electronics GmbH.

“The cooperation between Rheinmetall and ProTecBird is unique worldwide. With our software and the technical expertise of ProTecBird, not only can unique protected birds such as the red kite or the white-tailed sea eagle be protected. Concerning the aviation sector, it also offers great benefits for flight safety regarding bird strikes on aircraft engines and the airframe,” Lindenau continues.

For Rheinmetall, demonstrating the effectiveness of the system in wind turbines is a successful example of the Group’s involvement in environmental protection.

As a technology start-up, ProTecBird is determined to push ahead with its research and development. The company is currently working on expanding its technology to other animal species, such as real-time detection of bats, to ensure more comprehensive protection of wildlife.

In addition, ProTecBird aims to expand its partnerships to promote the use of renewable energy not only in Germany but also worldwide.

Posted in International, Power, Press Release | Comments Off on ProTecBird Enables Successful Protection of the Red Kite Around Wind Turbines

Electric Micromobility Operations Vehicle from Bunker Supply

Wednesday, August 21st, 2024

Bunker Supply has been awarded a SBIR Phase II for the continued development of the Electric Micromobility Operations Vehicle (E-MOV).

E-MOV is a versatile, decentralized electric micromobility vehicle to optimize base operations and support distributed operating bases by aiding distributed operations at dispersed locations, a key component of the Agile Combat Employment (ACE) concept.

Posted in Contracts, Mobility, Power | Comments Off on Electric Micromobility Operations Vehicle from Bunker Supply

Galvion Recharges USMC with the Receipt of Multiple Power and Data Product Orders

Wednesday, August 7th, 2024

Galvion, a world leader in the design and manufacture of integrated power and data management solutions and innovative head protection systems, has received a number of orders from the United States Marine Corps (USMC) for its Nerv Centr® power and data products. Galvion has recently received an order for 5000 SoloPack™ II lithium-ion rechargeable batteries and a USD $1.5M order for additional ancillary cables to further support the USMC’s in-service Portable Power Scavenger Systems (P2S2).

The SoloPack™ II batteries ordered will support the USMC’s Fire support and coordination systems using portable, handheld devices to employ supporting arms in consonance with maneuver elements used by Marines. Galvion’s original 98Wh SoloPack™ batteries were included in kits when fielded in 2018. This new order for 5000 SoloPack™ II will provide more power to better sustain these critical systems. Small, lightweight and energy-dense, the SoloPack II offers 140Wh of energy (40% more power storage capacity than the original SoloPack), while maintaining the familiar, compact form factor users expect from the Nerv Centr® suite of products. SoloPack II fits into a magazine pouch for ease of storage and weighs only 1.65lbs (750 grams).

In December 2022, Galvion announced an order valued at USD $11 million to supply a customized Squad Power Manager™ (SPM) kit to each Marine Expeditionary Force (MEF) within the Marine Corps, including Reserve Forces. The USMC’s Portable Power Scavenger System (P2S2) kits include Galvion’s SPM and a selection of cables, connectors and accessories that provide the ability to scavenge, distribute, and manage power from multiple power sources including solar, Alternating Current (AC), Direct Current (DC), military batteries, North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) plugs, and vehicle cigarette lighter/alternator attachments. The SPM kit can scavenge power from partially discharged batteries, vehicles, and standard electrical outlets and convert that power into a usable format for powering devices and recharging batteries. The recent order received for additional ancillary cables will extend and further enhance the functionality of the USMC’s in-service P2S2 kits.

Todd Stirtzinger, CEO at Galvion said: “The United States Marines are some of the world’s toughest warfighters, and we’re incredibly proud to supply them with equipment that supports their missions.

The power supply and management solutions that we provide contribute to a reduction in physical and logistical burden by sustaining power for longer with less weight.” He continued: “The fact that these orders extend and enhance capabilities that Galvion has already supplied to Marines is an example of our commitment to responding to the ever-changing needs of our customers. We’re seeing a number of repeat orders from partners across the globe, which means we’re doing something right; this latest round of orders from the USMC is a proud moment for our whole team.”

Posted in Contracts, Power, Press Release, USMC | Comments Off on Galvion Recharges USMC with the Receipt of Multiple Power and Data Product Orders

Black Hills Designs – Battery Mag

Friday, August 2nd, 2024

Black Hills Designs has come up with another handy solution for load carriage. This time it’s a battery caddy that is shaped like a 30 round M4 magazine to help standardize your pouches.

I know what you’re thinking already. No, it won’t fit in a magwell, it’s a bit oversized. Plus, it features a unique texture so it will feel different in your hand as well as having all of those cutouts for batteries. But just to be sure, don’t store it in your kit along with your actual magazines.

CAPACITY

2xAA
2×2032
4xAAA
3xCR123
2x 18650/16650 OR an additional 4xCR123

Currently offered in Black with more colors to come.

Get yours at www.blackhillsdesigns.net/product/battery-mag.

Posted in Load Carrying, Power | 1 Comment »

All-Electric Fixed-Wing Aircraft Offloads Cargo at JB McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst

Wednesday, July 17th, 2024

JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. (AFNS) —

Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst played a vital role in a historic first cargo flight as part of a demonstration of the ALIA CTOL, a battery-powered fixed-wing aircraft, July 9. The National Aerospace Research and Technology Park (NARTP) in Atlantic City tested the aircraft’s cargo usage by flying a lap pattern from Atlantic City, Dover Air Force Base and JB MDL.

The U.S. Air Force, in a partnership with BETA Technologies, has been instrumental in the development of ALIA. This groundbreaking aircraft, with a range of 250 nautical miles and the capacity to seat up to five passengers, is a testament to the Air Force’s adaptability to new technologies. The Air Force’s interest in the ALIA’s flexible applications further reinforces its commitment to staying at the forefront of technological advancements.

Moving cargo between Dover AFB and JB MDL with the ALIA is advantageous because it saves time and many other valuable resources.

“We can be ready to take off in a matter of minutes, and the battery has a low center of gravity, which is not affected by the way you load the cargo,” said Ross Elkort, BETA Technologies flight test engineer.”

The 305th Maintenance Squadron’s Precision Measurement Equipment Laboratory team unloaded 319 pounds of cargo from Dover AFB and loaded 222 pounds to send on a return trip.

Having last-mile cargo delivery handled by a battery-powered fixed-wing is an opportunity to make air mobility safer, cleaner and more cost-effective.

“It brings key innovation to the mission. It’s going to make things faster and simpler,” said Alyxandra Scalone, 305th Maintenance Squadron production controller. “Dover (AFB) is about two and a half hours away from us. Today’s flight only took 45 minutes.”

“An all-electric aircraft like the ALIA is the next evolution of rapid global mobility,” said Zachary White, BETA Technologies team member. “We started working with the AFWERX Agility Prime Program in 2019. We are super excited to be here and supporting Air Mobility Command. Doing different types of missions and flying cargo between bases, it was great to see the flexibility of this aircraft.”

By MSgt Joseph Vigil, Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst Public Affairs

Posted in Air Force, Aviation, Guest Post, Power | Comments Off on All-Electric Fixed-Wing Aircraft Offloads Cargo at JB McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst