Dismounted Micro-Climate Cooling/Heating Vest with Integration Power System

Environmental temperature extremes pose serious stresses for the human body, placing it in danger of injury or death. Even mild heat illness and dehydration can significantly degrade Warfighter performance. Likewise, exposure to cold weather can lead to serious health issues, including hypothermia, frostbite, nonfreezing cold injuries, and more. The objective of this effort is to develop a highly mobile self-contained integrated MicroClimate Heating and Cooling (MCHC) device for dismounted operator use that will be integrated with a self-contained lightweight modular power source capable of power the MCHC for a typical 72-hour mission. During Phase I, and subsequent work, company proved feasibility of its MCHC product, but was forced (by contract) to use existing, fielded XX90 brick format batteries to provide power for the device. These bulky, heavy and low energy density batteries could not provide the power necessary to complete a 72-hour mission. Phase II will pursue advanced development of the MCHC device (smaller, lighter, more capable) and will be integrated with a new energy storage technology that is conformal, safe, and has significantly more energy density than any near-to-medium term energy storage technology.