Illustration: #AnnaSarvira
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Access to electricity is critical in modern warfare. The military must charge small gadgets and power devices with high energy consumption, like Starlink terminals. Constantly using electric generators is a suboptimal solution. They emit a lot of heat, so they are easy to see in a thermal imager. The military has to carefully disguise the generators and dig separate trenches for them. When the shelling begins, no one will save the heavy generator.
Scientists of the Ivano-Frankivsk National Technical University of Oil and Gas were able to partially solve this problem. At the beginning of the full-scale war, Andriy, Maksym and Liubomyr were approached by a gas transportation company with a request to think of an alternative type of power supply for them in case the mains supply disappeared. Later, scientists received a similar request from the Ukrainian military.
Initially, the developers created simple charging stations using solar panels, which could be used to charge a smartphone or tablet. Later, there was a need for more powerful stations with 220V power. They tested the invention with Starlink. The charging station that was made doesn’t need to be masked, because the solar panels are not visible. It works effectively in diffused light and can function for an hour and a half after dark. According to the developers, their station covers all power source needs of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
Almost all parts for the station can be purchased at any store with an electrics department, and it is also relatively easy to repair. All devices are very sturdy, so they can be transported even in difficult conditions. Within five months, scientists managed to hand over six stations to the army. The next goal is to make them lighter and more mobile.