Program Manager: Brian C. Holloway, Ph.D.
Today's warfighter must often carry an extremely cumbersome number of heavy primary batteries in order to provide power to various radios, laptops, laser designators, and other mission critical electronic equipment. DARPA's investments in portable power have demonstrated that fuel cell and Stirling engine generators can achieve energy densities up to seven times that of today's military logistic batteries.
Building upon successes achieved in DSO's Palm Power program, the Robust Portable Power program seeks to initiate and facilitate the transition of portable fuel cell and Stirling engine technologies by pursuing collaboratively funded efforts that will further optimize and ruggedize these technologies for specific military applications in harsh environments. If deployed, these technologies could greatly reduce the weight burden associated with carrying multiple primary batteries into the field. In addition, the application of portable generators in place of battery power for small unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and or unmanned ground vehicle (UGV) missions would greatly increase mission duration and capability.
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