Engineers Lend Expertise to Warfighter Power Pack Competition Published June 15, 2009 By Heyward Burnette Materials & Manufacturing Directorate WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio -- The proficiency and resourcefulness of AFRL's technical workforce paid dividends in a contest to develop a portable power capability for warfighters in the field. The engineers were part of a contingent responsible for final testing of the wearable power systems constructed by individual inventors, small businesses, and large defense contractors in response to the Department of Defense technology development competition. The purpose of the challenge was to identify a lightweight, multipurpose power pack technology meeting various technical criteria, including reliable communications and capabilities of similar importance in today's high-tech environment. The competition process identified the top three power pack systems as potential candidates for supporting the warfighter. Continued research and development of this technology could ultimately lead to successful transition of such a system for deployed military forces. The competition called for teams to develop power packs weighing less than 4 kg (8.8 lbs) and attachable to a standard military vest for deployment to warfighters in the field. Entries came from 169 teams across the US, as well as from 15 foreign countries. Following a series of qualifying rounds, 30 teams participated in the final event, which included bench and field tests. During the 92-continuous-hour bench test, the systems were subjected to varying power loads (up to 200 W, with an average draw of 20 W). Of the 30 finalists, only 6 completed bench test successfully. Next was a 4-hour field test wherein the remaining 6 systems were tasked with providing power to items (e.g., notebook computers, heating vests, advanced equipment) actually used by warfighters to facilitate communications; situational awareness; and, ultimately, the ability to fight and survive. The DoD determined in advance that the winner would be that system weighing the least and successfully completing both bench and field tests. DuPont Fuel Cells and German partner SFC Smart Fuel Cell AG finished in first place for their M-25 Land Warrior Soldier Power Generator, an advanced prototype of SFC's direct-methanol fuel cell. Second place went to Adaptive Materials, Inc., for a vest-mounted version of its Amie25, a solid-oxide fuel cell. Third place went to Capitol Connections, LLC, for its own DMFC (based on SFC's JENNY portable power system). All three teams used a hybrid approach whereby a fuel cell charges batteries that, in turn, provide electrical power to devices.