Future camouflage uniforms for soldiers will draw energy from the sun providing continuous power for a radio, GPS and weapons, but at half the weight of traditional battery packs.
The Engineering and Physical Research Sciences Center in the UK is working on a new type of fabric that uses solar photovoltaic cells, thermoelectric devices and advanced lightweight batteries. Because the system absorbs heat, it could even serve as a type of wearable stealth cloak, making a soldier less susceptible to detection with infrared cameras.
(READ the article in Pop Science)
why on earth is this good news??
[quote name=”jordan22″]why on earth is this good news??[/quote]
Because it provides advanced technologies that keep our soldiers safer in combat, I would think.
It also has a number of environmentally friendly technology advances which would be useful to many types of people and lots of applications, including:
– Hikers / campers
– Motorcycle riders (great way to power the “toys”)
I’m sure there are many others.
Fewer batteries piling up in landfills of the Middle East, and elsewhere.