澳大利亚耗巨资研制单兵太阳能背包 The frontline soldiers who will run on solar

The frontline soldiers who will run on solar power
澳大利亚国防部投资一百万英镑研究单兵的太阳能背包/背板？，为士兵的无线电、夜视仪、GPS等设备提供能源
Front-line troops could soon be carrying a new piece of hi-tech gear into battle - solar panels.
Soldiers will have them moulded on to their backpacks to help power the array of electronic equipment now used in combat.
The introduction of solar panels is being studied by the Ministry of Defence, which is keen to cut the use of traditional batteries. The new technology would be 'greener' than disposable batteries and much cheaper in the long run.
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It could also help save troops' lives by eliminating the danger of equipment failing because of lack of power.
And it could save them from the risk of injury posed by traditional batteries, which can explode if exposed to fire or extreme desert temperatures.
Weighing just 14oz, the panels have been developed for the Australian army, whose troops and special forces regularly fight alongside elite British SAS units in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The panels are made from a secret compound and can produce hours of low-level energy to power radios, night-vision goggles, communications equipment and sensors to detect enemy positions.
They even work in cloudy conditions because they harness solar radiation rather than direct sunlight. The Australian military, which spent £1million on the project, says the battlefield has become more "power hungry", so finding an alternative battery source was vital.
Lieutenant Colonel John Baird, of the Australian army, said: "This is fighting in the information age, where every soldier is connected via sophisticated communications equipment and uses sensors to provide information on an enemy's position.
"But it uses a hell of a lot of power, and the disposable batteries we are using now are far from ideal because when they run out the soldiers have to return to base and take the used batteries with them.
"If we can use the sun's radiation to recharge equipment then that is a clear advantage."
Dr Gavin Tulloch, director of the solar-panel project, said: "The lithium used in traditional batteries can be dangerous, particularly in conflict situations, and the residual electrolytes are quite polluting.
"The military disposes of them very carefully, but obviously it takes a long time for them to break down. This is a win-win situation for the army because it addresses those problems as well as operational needs."
A Ministry of Defence spokeswoman said: "We are exploring a variety of battery technology and alternatives to reduce the environmental impact and transport burden that comes with battery use."
She added that the MoD already used solar panels to keep its unmanned Zephyr aircraft aloft at nearly 60,000ft. The Zephyr has set a world record for the longest unmanned flight.