Press Releases
From Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association (AFCEA International)
Off-The-Shelf Gear Strengthens Marine Operations. Solar power systems also are helping Marines operate in undeveloped regions such as areas in Afghanistan. In addition to the lack of infrastructure, providing fuel to run generators is a constant logistical challenge. To meet its requirements, the Marine Corps is examining technologies designed to shorten its supply needs in the field.
One candidate is a tent with built-in solar cells. Developed for temperature and energy efficiency, the shelter uses an efficient thermal fly to manage internal temperature and reduce overall power use. According to Tom Eggers, director of Utilis, which manufactures the tents, recent Air Force tests demonstrated that the shelter cut the need for internal air conditioning by 26 percent. He notes that this efficiency is achieved by the tent’s exterior design, which provides an air space that insulates the interior. The shelters also are designed to be set up within three to five minutes.
The Air Force approached the company with the idea of installing solar panels on the tent, Eggers explains. Tests found that the solar panels generated over 4 kilowatts of power for running equipment and recharging batteries. This internal power capability fit in with the Marine Corps’ needs for more flexible power supplies for its expeditionary forces, he says.
The tent’s power supply is the result of a partnership with Energy Tech Incorporated, which developed the solar cells and an accompanying wind generator. Recent advances in thin film technology also have boosted the panel’s efficiency. Eggers explains that thin film solar panels traditionally have a six percent efficiency converting solar radiation into power. The tent’s solar panels use a new thin film process with an efficiency of 14 percent that meets military requirements for ruggedness and power output. He notes that the new solar cell technology allows the tent’s power output to be boosted to 6 kilowatts.
“Fort Walton Beach, Fla.- based Utilis USA said its tactical shelters, which range in size from 200 square feet to 646 square feet, feature an external frame design with a pulley system to erect the outer fabric and internal liner in one motion in about six minutes, without the need for a compressor, power or a ladder….Utilis partner Energy Technologies, based in Mansfield, Ohio, developed solar technology for the shelters that can produce as much as 1440 watts for the Utilis TM-18 model or as much as 4300 watts for the TM-54 model”
Advances in rapidly deployable structures for collective protection particularly the Utilis solution of a lightweight, yet structurally strong design that will reduce set up time and logistical burdens.
Overview of the latest advance in durable technology for quick erect shelters and collective protection. This article highlights the advantages and features of the Utilis shelter system, including ease of set up, successful passing of required standard military testing and durability to stand up to harsh defense environments.
Questions and answers about the background, products and future of Utilis USA from the Director, Tom Eggers.
Utilis USA
36 Tupelo Ave SE
Ft. Walton Beach, FL 32548
1-877-4 U T I L I S
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