Military technology has advanced rapidly in recent years, leading to a much broader assortment of electronic equipment that infantry soldiers need to carry. As the number of electronic devices ticks upward, the number of cables required to power those devices and allow them to remain connected increases proportionately. This has led to a capacity issue—there’s an upper limit to how many cables a soldier can wear without being badly encumbered.
In an effort to raise this limit, the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command (CCDC) has developed flexible, integrated cables that should help soldiers safely carry more electronics. The Army’s array of modernization targets will need to be underpinned by the appropriate power solutions. CCDC researchers are hoping the new cables will meet this challenge.
The first area of improvement is the most obvious—weight. The CCDC team expects a weight reduction of 50 percent in comparison to the cables currently used. In addition, the new system will allow soldiers greater freedom of movement and be less likely to cause potentially fatal snags. “It reduces snag hazards because it can be looped through a tactical vest several times. The new cable feels like the fabric of a standard Army uniform and blends in seamlessly with the camouflage pattern,” said Ethan Wise, an electronics engineer leading the development effort.
Certain modernization initiatives, like the Integrated Visual Augmentation Systems (IVAS), will make power demands that are unprecedented for dismounted infantry. The Microsoft-built platform is a heads-up display that will allow soldiers to monitor critical battlefield data in real time. It also includes features like target recognition and augmented reality for better communication with other unit members. These capabilities will demand an uninterrupted flow of power for stretches that could be measured in hours rather than minutes. The new flexible cables now in development by the CCDC could be the solution.
Another area of interest is the potential integration of the new cables with the rifles soldiers carry every day. One intriguing possibility is a rifle sling made of material very similar to the integrated cables. This would bring with it several advantages, including reduced battery weight on the rifle itself, more versatility for the user, and longer run times.
These and other projects are pulling U.S. Army soldiers forward. The battlefields of the future will look much different from those of the past, largely due to technological advances and the rise of electronic tools. The cables in development by the CCDC could mean that soldiers will have a power source that’s up to the task of keeping them going.