Currently, there is no commercially available intelligent battery charger for maintaining 6T format Lithium-ion batteries, thus slowing the adoption of this critical technology to U.S. and NATO forces worldwide. This Phase I effort will bridge this capability gap by creating a minimum viable product (TRIDEC's "Tactical Wheeled Intelligent Charger") for the intelligent charging/discharging and maintenance of a single Lithium-ion 6T battery. Further development in Phase II will lead to an advanced MIL-SPEC product with additional power inputs and with the ability to intelligently charge/discharge and maintain up to six Lithium-ion 6T batteries simultaneously. TRIDEC's low risk approach uses mostly commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) components and modified commercial off-the-shelf (mCOTS) components as a strategy to ensure that cost, reliability, long-term sustainability, and delivery targets are maintained or surpassed. TRIDEC's Principal Investigator and product development team have significant experience in designing and fielding tactical power products that intelligently charge (and communicate through CAN) Lithium-ion 6T batteries from multiple U.S. based vendors. Our strategy of early partnering with a relevant U.S based battery charger OEM decreases commercialization risk and sets the stage for a successful technology transfer into Phase III manufacturing, production, and distribution to support our warfighters with a low risk/high reward business and technical plan.
