The Army Wants Soldiers to Wear Solar Panels and Bionic Knee Braces

When United States soldiers venture out on routine three-day missions in the field, they mostly pack the essentials: food, water, ammunition and 10 to 13 pounds of batteries. Modern soldiers have so many electronically-powered devices, from night vision goggles to flashlights to radios, that batteries are a vital component of their livelihood.

In fact, they have to carry so many batteries that the weight impedes mobility. The occasional demand for a resupply means more soldiers must risk their lives just to deliver batteries to other military members in need. To alleviate this problem, the army wants soldiers to sport wearable solar panels and bionic knee braces that would harness the sun and kinetic energy to recharge their devices. Read more...