U.S. Army Taps Yank Tech for Wireless Power
Yank Technologies, a specialist in long-range wireless charging, has been selected for a Phase II contract with the U.S. Army. The 18-month, $2 million deal will focus on developing technology to wirelessly charge soldiers' wearable batteries while they are being worn in the field.
The contract is part of the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program, a competitive system that encourages domestic small businesses to engage in federal Research and Development with the potential for commercialization. A Phase II award allows companies to continue R&D efforts from a successful Phase I, focusing on developing a prototype and evaluating its commercial potential. The Army's current reliance on wired charging for its Conformal Wearable Batteries (CWBs) presents significant operational challenges. These systems suffer from reliability issues due to wear and tear on connectors and force soldiers to frequently swap batteries, which is cumbersome and requires the Army to maintain a large and costly inventory of spares. Dismounted soldiers can carry nearly 10 pounds of batteries for a 72-hour mission, a figure expected to increase as more electronic systems are brought into the network. Without reliable power, the Army's technological overmatch is degraded, making soldier-power solutions a critical operational concern. Yank Technologies' system is designed to charge these wearable batteries seamlessly while soldiers are inside military vehicles, eliminating the need for cables. The technology is intended to work regardless of a soldier's movement or posture within the vehicle, a limitation of current wireless charging which requires precise alignment. The company's approach utilizes 3D antenna arrays and amplifiers that can adjust in real-time to the movement and introduction of new devices in the charging field. Yank Technologies claims its antennas have the highest intrinsic quality factor ("Q"), a measure of efficiency, allowing for more effective power delivery over greater distances. By enabling in-vehicle, on-the-move charging, the system aims to reduce the number of batteries a soldier must carry, improve the reliability of their power sources, and ultimately enhance their capabilities on the battlefield. This also promises to reduce long-term costs for the Army by minimizing the need for excess battery inventory.
