COMBAT READY 24/7

Strapping a cooler onto a soldier to keep his body temperature down is not a new idea, but the technology has thus far been let down by practical issues such as limited battery life and impractical weight. Well, not anymore.

Developed by Singapore Technologies Kinetics Ltd (ST Kinetics), the Adaptive Real-Time Core Temperature Intelligent Cooler (ARCTIC) is a modular cooler technology fitted into a soldier's load bearing vest.

It is able to sense ambient and body temperature in real-time, and automatically adjust its cooling power to reduce the soldier's metabolic and perspiration rates. Users can also adjust the cooling power manually.

Considerably lighter than other body cooling systems which weigh over 5kg, the ARCTIC uses fuel cells which weigh 30 percent lighter than conventional variants.

It is also partially powered by lightweight, high-capacity batteries that last 25 percent longer compared to standard batteries. This duration can be stretched even further because of a pair of special knee braces.

Sustainable and lighter

Fitted on the knees, the Bionic Regenerative Active Energy System (BRACES) converts kinetic energy from the soldier's movements into electric energy. This can in turn be used to charge batteries wirelessly via a charging pad. An hour of movement can potentially yield up to eight watt-hours of energy (about 80 percent of a Samsung S4 smartphone battery's capacity).

The entire suite of batteries, fuel cells, smart power management device and wireless charging technologies is called the Power and Energy Management System (PoEMS), which can also be used to charge other electronic devices such as communication and navigation systems.

According to ST Kinetics engineer Francis Yap, the set (ARCTIC, BRACES and PoEMS) is the world's first such integrated system for sustaining a soldier's endurance. Its development started in 2010 and early prototypes have seen positive results.

The ARCTIC contains no moving parts and cools its user through thermal conduction. It can thus last longer than current commercial systems which either wear out fast because of multiple moving parts or require lengthy preparation such as soaking and refrigeration before each use. It also boasts an additional cooling effect through the use of a special proprietary fabric for the soldier's clothing.

The engineers aim to complete the development and trials in another two to four years. Higher power output, efficiency and more weight savings can be expected.

Next-gen rifle

To further enhance a soldier's combat readiness, ST Kinetics has developed the 5.56mm Bullpup Multi-role Combat Rifle (BMCR). Designed for both right- and left-handed soldiers, it has a forward ejection port to discharge spent cartridges to the front and right side of the weapon.

One of the world's shortest bullpup rifle, it is designed for urban combat with a 14.5-inch (37cm) barrel that lets soldiers manoeuvre easily in tight spaces. The commonly used M-16 has a barrel length of 20 inches. It also comes with Picatinny rails that allows different sights to be mounted. The reflex sight, for example, allows soldiers to aim while keeping both eyes open, enabling better situational awareness.

Soldiers can also change the barrel group to turn the BMCR from an assault rifle into a light machine gun, or change to a longer sharpshooter barrel group with a magnified scope for an extended range and accuracy up to 800m.

Lastly, it can be turned into a Modern Soldier System rifle, equipped with compact advanced sighting systems like fire control systems, thermal sights and cameras. ST Kinetics engineers will be looking to integrate the BMCR with BRACES and PoEMS to charge the batteries (in the rifle butt) that powers these accessories.

Soldiers will find the rifle easy to clean. Thanks to a special dry lubrication coating, the BMCR requires minimum maintenance, especially in harsh operating environments with sand and dust. The rifle's dual magazine interface also means it can be used with both the Singapore Assault Rifle 21 and M16 magazines.

ST Kinetics expects to complete the development of the BMCR in 2015.

Tech specs

Arctic

Components

Electronic sensors, cooling unit and fabric uniform.

Braces

Efficiency

Harvests 8 watt-hours of energy for every hour of movement.

BCMR

Calibre

5.56mm

Scope

Reflex sight, optical scope & others

Barrel group (Max effective range)

Assault (500m)

Light Machine Gun (800m)

Sharpshooter (800m)

Modern Soldier System (500m)

PoEMS

Components

Batteries, fuel cells, wireless charging pad, smart energy management device