US Army Taps Yank Tech for Wireless Charging
Yank Technologies has been selected for a $2 million, 18-month U.S. Army contract to develop long-range wireless charging for soldier-worn batteries. The goal is to create a system that can power warfighter wearables while they are actively being used in the field.
The contract is part of the Army's Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program, designed to foster technological innovation from small businesses to meet defense needs. This Phase II award signifies that Yank Technologies' concept proved feasible in Phase I, leading to significant funding for prototype development. The core problem being addressed is the logistical burden and unreliability of wired charging for a soldier's growing number of electronic devices. Soldiers currently rely on Conformal Wearable Batteries (CWBs), flexible power packs worn on their vests, but must frequently swap them out, leading the Army to purchase and manage a large inventory of spares. Yank Technologies' solution uses a form of resonant inductive charging that doesn't require precise alignment or physical contact. This means a soldier's CWB can be recharging opportunistically while they are seated and moving around inside a military vehicle, ensuring they are powered up without having to de-vest or plug in cables. Based in Brooklyn, New York, Yank Technologies has developed its long-range wireless power systems for a variety of sectors, including automotive, industrial, and consumer applications. The company's technology is designed to power multiple devices at once, even through materials like plastic or wood. This Army contract is not the company's only high-profile government work. Yank Technologies has also been awarded multiple contracts with NASA to develop dust-tolerant wireless charging connectors for use on the moon and other planetary surfaces, tackling similar issues of reliability in harsh environments.
