Energy-Efficient Technologies for the Dismounted Soldier (1997) / Chapter Skim
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8 Research Objectives
8 Research Objectives
Pages 149-164
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From page 149... ...
Rechargeable Batteries Improvements on the order of a factor of two or more can be achieved by advances in processing technology, active material composition morphology, reinforcing components, electrolytes, and components with limited cycle life and recharging rates, such as separators. Rechargeable batteries have significant logistic advantages for the Army, but their specific energy is only about half that of equivalent primary batteries.
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From page 150... ...
Advanced charging methods can provide rapid recharging, longer cycle life, and higher performance. Aqueous Systems Significant improvements in specific energy, specific power, and cycle life can be achieved by optimizing the structure and particle size of reactant materials.
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From page 151... ...
Continuous high level cooling for missions longer than a few days will clearly require massive energy sources, i.e., high specific energy fueled systems with power levels above 150 W and several kWh of stored energy. Innovative, efficient conversion technologies for converting stored energy to active cooling watt also be necessary.
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From page 152... ...
Pulsed power techniques have been extensively employed in the high power regime; however, no field tests have been done to determine the utility of this approach to human-portable power. To optimize the design, it will be necessary to have information on the power demand time history for a variety of mission profiles.
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From page 153... ...
tools for highly complex circuits have been improved circuit packing density, higher performance circuits, self-testing circuit modules, and an improved automated design process. Commercial developments in low power electronics have focused on silicon efficiency (area and performance)
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From page 154... ...
For the Army to keep pace with commercial progress in low power semiconductor technology, it must monitor and support advances in technology and be sensitive to industry's limitations. Optimizing Device Design At the device level, individual transistor designs can be optimized to reduce the cower required.
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From page 155... ...
In fact, capabilities far beyond Land Warrior's computation and communication capabilities could be implemented, including support for low energy networking, protocols, signal processing, and analog capability for interfacing and processing data from various sensors. Additional computation circuitry to compress data, which would reduce the power required for data transmission, would also be possible.
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From page 156... ...
Many require extensive training, and inaccuracies often frustrate users. in addition, most of these modalities require extensive computing resources that increase energy consumption and weight.
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From page 157... ...
Similar architectures might be used to support electronic sensors for optical energy, radio frequency energy, chemical agents, or radioactivity. Multimodal and Adaptive Communication Circuits To achieve the flexibility and energy reductions in radio modem circuits that will be possible in future integrated circuit technology, the Army will require designs that allow analog radio frequency circuitry to coexist on the same circuit as digital processing optimized for low power.
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From page 158... ...
Wireless Battlefield Communications Network The Army should pursue research aimed at adapting commercial cellular and personal communication system networks and technologies to the needs of future soldier systems. As explained in Chapter 6, radio networks and protocols at the soldier level require peer-to-peer architectures for low latency connectivity and, simultaneously, require hierarchical architectures to meet power concerns and the capability to use COTS (commercial off-the-shelf)
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From page 159... ...
Models for Optimizing Energy Efficiency Energy efficiency directly affects the combat effectiveness of the dismounted soldier by determining the weight, bulk, data-handling capacity, and stealth characteristics of battlefield equipment. Simulation models that incorporate models of soldier effectiveness and behavior wall make possible trade-offs among localized computation, distributed databases, information dissemination patterns, and soldier operational doctrine to optimize the design of dismounted soldier systems.
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From page 160... ...
These deserve immediate emphasis: wireless battlefield communications network models for optimizing energy efficiency advanced fueled systems Wireless Battlefield Communications Network As communications come to dominate the energy consumption of systems for the dismounted soldier, the creation of a virtual peer-to-peer architecture, as discussed in Chapter 6, will become increasingly important. implementation of virtual peer-to-peer architecture will require much more than the straightforward adaptation of commercial technology.
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From page 161... ...
The goal is to minimize energy consumption and electronic signatures while maximizing the combat soldier's effectiveness. The Army should begin by assessing the state of the art of commercial communications technology.
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From page 162... ...
Models for Optimizing Energy Efficiency The energy use of Land Warrior and successor systems for the dismounted soldier will depend on a host of variables, including electronic device technology, the characteristics of energy sources, processing algorithms, the communications architecture and protocols, sensors, and tactical and operational doctrine. Integrating this complex system and ensuring the greatest benefit per unit of energy consumption will require high fidelity models of the soldier's activities on the battlefield.
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From page 163... ...
Of the 20 significant research objectives recommended by the committee, the Army should place the most emphasis on: developing a wireless battlefield communications network developing models for optimizing energy efficiency developing advanced fueled systems keyed to the soldier system In evaluating and determining priorities, energy efficiency must become the primary rationale for research on dismounted soldier systems. Capitalizing on experience with Land Warrior, the Army should use the following guidelines in implementing future programs: The Army must be willing to invest in new technology.
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From page 164... ...
164 ENERGY-EFFICIENT TECHNOLOGIES FOR THE DISMOUNTED SOLDIER The vision is sound, but the science and technology insertion candidates for Land Warrior are aimed at the relatively near term. Advanced systems have not been identified that will meet the far term power requirements.
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