Broad-Range Energy Collection and Harvesting

To address the Army"s need for a lightweight, rugged, durable, high-efficiency battery charger and storage unit (BCSU), Physical Optics Corporation (POC) proposes to develop a new Broad-Range Energy Collection and Harvesting (BRECH) technology. This proposed device is based on a new design that uses in-house developed mature technologies and commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) components. The innovation in technology for the antenna fabrication and the material used for power conversion will enable the BRECH system to continuously convert radiative environmental energy into usable direct current (DC), to charge Soldiers"batteries at a rate of 20 W within five hours (even at night and in poor weather), while weighing less than 2 lb without the battery. As a result, this technology offers a wide spectrum of environmental power harvesting and efficient conversion of this power, light weight, and adaptivity to mass production, which directly addresses the PEO Ground Combat Systems requirements for the BCSU for the Army"s Land Warrior program. In Phase I, POC will demonstrate the feasibility of the BRECH concept by the evaluation and demonstration of conceptual prototypes. In Phase II, POC plans to develop, build, and demonstrate a full-scale prototype suitable for limited field testing.