I’m hesitant to call anything used in combat environmentally friendly, but Lockheed Martin’s proposed body armor equipped with an energy unit is nothing if not interesting. According to the company’s patent application, the armor will feature an “electrical energy storage unit” developed by stealth start-up EEStor.
The armor’s energy storage layer could help soldiers power their flashlights, GPS units, radios and more. Currently, soldiers are often weighed down by extra batteries for these devices.
Lockheed Martin’s energy unit will most likely be between .5 centimeters and 2 centimeters thick. The body armor will include electrical connectors, electrical ports, and an energy management system.
If EEStor’s ultra-light energy storage device works for the military, it may be headed for electric vehicles next.
Photo Credit: Lockheed Martin
Ariel Schwartz was formerly the editor of CleanTechnica and is a contributor at Fast Company, Inhabitat, Triple Pundit, SF Weekly, and NBC Bay Area Online. A graduate of Vassar College, she has previously worked in publishing, organic farming, documentary film, and newspaper journalism. Her interests include permaculture, hiking, skiing, music, relocalization, and cob (the building material). She currently resides in San Francisco, CA.
