SBIR-STTR Award

Adaptive Materials, Inc. (AMI) proposes to evaluate technologies and mission profiles for use in the development of an efficient power management system for the United States Marine Corps Distributed Operations Squads. The base Phase I effort will focus on optimizing existing AMI power management technology to analyze mission profiles and provide optimized power solutions for given combat load. This effort will culminate in a power management system designed specifically for the unique mission of the Distributed Operations Squad. With the execution of a Phase I option, AMI will deliver a working proof of concept power management suite. This system will provide detailed mission profiles and power usage reports, as well as enable highly efficient DC conversion to meet the energy requirements of the Distributed Operations Squad.

Benefit:
The results of this effort will be an power management system that directly supports the USMC Distributed Operations Concept. In concert with this development, AMI will purse an aggressive commercialization strategy focused on market research and exploration of other critical areas for power management. Ultimately, AMI will be positioned to rapidly provide power management solutions to a wide variety of military and civilian electronic devices.

Keywords:
power profiles, power profiles, solar cells, Batteries, Fuel Cells, distributed operations, energy consumption, Power management

Company Commanders looking to effectively employ renewable energy systems need a planning tool to ensure that the impact of renewable energies is positive on company operations. With the development of a suitable software application and standard operating procedures renewable energy technologies can offer Commanders significant battlefield advantages. Adaptive Materials developed a software application during the SBIR Phase I that identified optimal power source selection for particular mission profiles. Adaptive Materials is proposing for the SBIR Phase II to expand upon the software application to include the functionality to select a mix of renewable power sources based upon current equipment availability, mission-suitability, environmental factors, as well as user-specified preferences. The application will significantly increase the availability to Commanders of reliable and current information on renewable energy systems and their ability to enhance the capability of the Company. A Companys combat effectiveness will be increased by the incorporation of sensible renewable energy technologies, reducing the logistical challenges associated with a purely logistics fuel and battery solution. These challenges include the price of the fuel, the equipment and manpower needed to move it, and the vulnerability of Warfighters assigned to protect the fuel convoys.

Benefit:
A successful phase two endeavor would deliver a software program that is versatile enough to adapt to the ever change power and energy space. While focusing on renewable energy technologies this program will allow the user to create performance criteria, establish power source preferences, and input critical mission drivers. This system will be flexible enough optimize solutions for the individual soldier or the platoon. AMI would envision follow on development efforts to focus on further defining power requirements to better determine mission requirements. This effort would involve future investment in power management and data logging equipment able to track actual equipment usage and battlefield power requirements improving the quality of mission planning data. This system would ultimately eliminate the knowledge gap between equipment usages and mission planning.

Keywords:
Renewable Energy, Solar Power, Wind Power, Solar Panel, Portable Photovoltaic, wind turbine, Power management, mission planning