Power management solutions and head protection specialist Galvion is taking the opportunity of the SOF Week 2024 exhibition, held in Tampa, Florida, from 6 to 10 May 2024, to demonstrate a new soldier system wireless charging concept.
The system, called BATLCHRG, follows the January 2024 announcement regarding Galvion’s strategic investment partnership with the Canadian technology firm Quaze Technologies. Galvion’s investment in Quaze combines the relative strengths of the technological innovation of both companies in bringing innovative wireless charging technology to the soldier systems market.
For SOF Week 2024 Galvion is demonstrating the BATLCHRG wireless charging capability in two battlefield scenarios: integrated into a vehicle seat and on a wall-mounted mat in a ready-room scenario. Both instances demonstrate that soldiers can charge multiple battery-powered systems through the wireless power transfer system.
“The robust wireless solution utilises a charging mat and receiver configuration that has excellent power transfer rates and efficiency, a broad position tolerance to account for movement and misalignment of surfaces, and functionality even in the harshest environments, proving efficient even when covered with water, snow, dirt, or dust,” Galvion stated in a press release.
Integrating with Galvion’s power and data product range, including the 2-Port Power & Data Hub (PDH-2), Personal Worn Scavenger (PWS) and SoloPack battery, the BATLCHRG wireless concept is designed to significantly reduce the logistic burden of battlefield power management. It extends functionality and capability by allowing soldier power systems to automatically and wirelessly charge when in static positions, such as while travelling in a vehicle, on sentry duty, manning a command post or resting.
Quaze’s surface power technology is powered by magnetic resonance, offering a safe, secure and seamless solution to efficiently charge multiple devices with variable power demands across a wide platform surface area.
“As experts in the soldier systems field, we are constantly looking for ways to minimise the burden for our warfighters,” Galvion CEO Todd Stirtzinger was quoted as saying in a company press release. “In October of 2023 we demonstrated our Charge on the Move capability, using our Squad Power Manager in a vehicle-mounted configuration to leverage vehicle power systems for the dismounted soldier today. Our strategic partnership with Quaze, and the resulting BATLCHRG capability that we are showcasing at SOF Week, envisions a wireless charging model that will push the boundaries of untethered power provision and management for the future.
“We see great potential in wireless technology, which allows unprecedented flexibility in terms of system expansion when combined with software development, and Galvion is poised to capitalise on these integrations for the future,” Stirtzinger added.
