Soldier Wearable Integrated Power Equipment System (SWIPES)—With an increasing awareness of the need for alter- nate energy and power solutions to reduce the Soldier’s physical load and promote the Army’s “green” power, CERDEC’s Army Power Division developed SWIPES, providing power and protection for extended amounts of time without requir- ing the Soldier to do power source swaps or power source charging separately.
SWIPES uses a Modular Lightweight Load-carrying Equipment (MOLLE) vest. It combines force protection electronics and communications with an advanced battery power source to keep high-drain applications charged all the time, while also providing the opportunity to custom- ize the system and add new applications.
The longer mission functionality is a result of the use of BA-8180/U and BA-8140/U zinc-air batteries, which directly power equipment. Zinc-air bat- teries have high energy density—even more than lithium-ion batteries—and are safe for use in military environments. SWIPES also helps reduce the Soldier’s battery weight by 30 to 50 percent while still enabling full use of GPS units, shot detection systems, and handheld commu- nication devices.
SOLDIER GREATEST INVENTIONS Furthering the Army Greatest Inventions as the “Soldiers’ Choice Awards” was the addition of the Soldier Greatest Inven- tions. There were two 2010 winners.
The “Ironman” Ammunition Pack System for Small Dismounted Teams, invented by SSG Vincent Winkowski and other members of 1st Battalion, 133rd Infantry Regiment, Iowa National Guard, enables Soldiers to carry and employ ammunition more easily.
BRIGHT IDEA
The Green Eyes Escalation of Force Kit provides multiple auxiliary devices to the Common Remotely Operated Weapon Station to temporarily disrupt a person’s vision, making driving a vehicle or aiming a weapon nearly impossible. (U.S. Army photo.)
“The ammunition sacks that came with [the Mk 48 7.62mm machine gun] made it too cumbersome and heavy to carry over long, dismounted patrols … Initially, we came up with using 50-round belts and just reloading constantly, which led to lulls of fire and inefficiency,” Winkowski said. He used what he had available to him, combining an All-purpose Lightweight Individual Carrying Equipment (ALICE) frame with two ammunition cans welded together and adding a MOLLE pouch to carry other equipment.
The result was a rucksack-like carrier that allows a machine gunner to carry and fire up to 500 rounds of linked ammunition.
The U.S. Army Natick Soldier Research, Development, and Engineering Center is working to insert the Ironman in the formal acquisition process to field it to more units.
Culvert Denial Process—CPL Eric DeHart, 428th Engineer Company, U.S. Army Reserve, was deployed to Afghani- stan when his platoon leader asked him to solve the problem of insurgents using culverts to hide bombs.
An engineer by trade, DeHart designed a culvert denial system as a solution. The device, which looks like a screen across the opening, is placed in a culvert. It allows
water and debris to pass through without leaving enough space to emplace IEDs.
CONCLUSION Created in 2003 by the U.S. Army Materiel Command (AMC), the Army Greatest Inventions awards program is designed to increase communication and esprit de corps between Soldiers and R&D communities. Nominations for the 2010 awards were submitted by various groups, including the U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, USMRMC, U.S. Army Research Institute, U.S. Army Research, Development, and Engineering Command (RDECOM), and AMC.
“The 2010 award winners demonstrated significant impact to Army capabilities, potential benefits outside of the Army, and inventiveness,” said MG Nicko- las G. Justice, Commanding General, RDECOM. “This program’s unique selection process reflects the voice of the warfighter and insight into the future of Army equipment.”
BRITTANY ASHCROFT provides contract support to the U.S. Army Acquisition Sup- port Center through BRTRC Technology Marketing Group. She has nearly 10 years’ experience in magazine editing and holds a B.A. in English from Elmhurst College.
ASC.ARMY.MIL 87
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
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