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Fuel Cell Driven Tablet Brings Wearable Computers To US Air Force General Dynamics C4 Systems, a business unit of General Dynamics has been awarded a contract by the United States Air Force (USAF) to develop and deliver 10 prototype tablet computers powered by direct liquid fuel cells for evaluation as a potential replacement for the department's current ground air traffic control computers. The program will combine commercial-off-the-shelf computer equipment with privately-developed fuel cell technology, and could enable extended field operations that will reduce the USAF's reliance on centrally-located recharging apparatus and spare batteries. As a subcontractor to SRA International on the USAF program, General Dynamics will be responsible for overall systems engineering, program management and subcontract management, and will deliver 10 prototype Itronix GoBook tablet computers and five prototype fuel cell power packs and associated refueling cartridges. The fuel cell systems will be supplied by Medis Technologies Ltd. of New York, whose direct liquid fuel cell system has been previously demonstrated to operate portable electronic devices. The system will then be field tested and evaluated by the Air Force Research Lab at Wright Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio. "This science and technology initiative will equip the U.S. Air Force with an enhanced Battlefield Air Operations kit, including an advanced computing platform with increased endurance for dismounted missions in an overall lighter, wearable and more deployable package," said Chris Marzilli, a senior vice president and deputy general manager for General Dynamics C4 Systems. "The prototype also could have implications for multiple Department of Defense instruments and applications, including, among other candidate products, powering the Joint Tactical Radio System (JTRS) Cluster 5 family of handheld and embedded software-defined radios." The wearable computer power demonstrator project is valued at $1.3 million. The results of the project are expected to be released in a final report to the USAF approximately 13 months after project start. The project also will evaluate potential modifications to the Itronix GoBook that would enable compatibility with night vision goggles, allow for increased daylight readability, enable the computer to boot in "stealth" mode without audio or video detection, operate with a passive touch screen and other enhancements. |
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