Energy-Efficient Technologies for the Dismounted Soldier (1997) / Chapter Skim
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Executive Summary
Executive Summary
Pages 1-12
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From page 1... ...
LAND WARRIOR AND DISMOUNTED SOLDIER REQUIREMENTS The Army Land Warrior system, which includes a computer/radio subsystem, an integrated helmet assembly subsystem, and a weapons subsystem, is being developed to increase the effectiveness of the dismounted soldier on the battlefield. The system is integrated by a general-purpose computer similar to a laptop personal computer and consists of radios, display systems, sensors, and other electronics (shown in Figure ES-~.
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Advanced concept technology demonstrations and advanced warfighting experiments involving new power sources and electronics, many of them developed by the Army Communications-Electronics Command, are being conducted in tandem with the Land Warrior program to help finalize the system design. Ongoing "digitization" experiments to incorporate information technologies are helping to bring the power requirements for dismounted soldier systems into focus.
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From page 4... ...
With all subsystems operating simultaneously, the Land Warrior radios, computer, displays, and sensors are estimated to have a total power requirement of more than 50 W The committee determined that a notional system of comparable functions based on available commercial technologies could be built before 2001 with a total system power requirement of less than 4 W
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From page 5... ...
The power requirements increase rapidly with distance, yet future operations doctrine will increase the distances involved in squad operations and increase bandwidth and data rate requirements. Thus although the energy costs of computing, sensing, and displaying are likely to decline rapidly, the energy for wireless transmissions will increase and eventually dominate the energy demand of the dismounted soldier systems.
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From page 6... ...
RESEARCH OBJECTIVES Research objectives aimed at meeting Army power requirements are listed in Table ESPY. The committee determined that three of these are essential to the combat effectiveness of the future dismounted soldier and offer the highest potential to influence Army After Next capabilities: development of a wireless communications network architecture for the battlefield that directly exploits commercial technology development of modeling and simulation capabilities to gauge the energy use of dismounted soldier systems continuation of active research to develop advanced fueled systems
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From page 7... ...
It will fall short of meeting the needs of the digitized battlefield principally because of excessive energy demands for computation and radio transmission. The Land Warrior program is on a course to field subsystems
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From page 8... ...
Reducing energy consumption will mean that available energy sources will be able to support longer missions using smaller and lighter energy sources and that new functions can be added to increase the soldier's capabilities. Paying attention to energy consumption through equipment design, as well as increased awareness and enforcement of power discipline, will also yield ancillary benefits, including lighter components, reduced susceptibility to detection, lower cooling requirements, and simplified logistical support.
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From page 9... ...
The Army should support the development and use of low power software, in which each instruction is written or compiled to minimize power requirements. New tools may be required for specific military applications.
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Recommendation 3c. The Army should develop an effective strategy for keeping abreast of state-of-the-art consumer product development and for specifying low power performance criteria in its solicitations.
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From page 11... ...
Energy needed for radio transmission will then dominate the power requirements for successor Land Warrior systems. Recommendation 4a.
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From page 12... ...
requirements, fi~eled systems (generally, combinations of rechargeable batteries or capacitors charged by fuel cells or other fueled energy sources) can offer specific energy an order of magnitude higher than the best battery at relatively small development risk.
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