Robins unit focuses on new energy sources
Date: Sunday, July 31, 2005 @ 10:10:31 UTC
Topic: General
By Gene Rector/ Telegraph Staff Writer
ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE - If you ask Mike Mead what he does for a living, he might answer that he produces "power to the people."...
Mead heads the Advanced Power Technology Office at Robins Air Force Base, the Air Force focal point for seeking out practical applications for new energy technologies for use on military equipment.
"We're trying to integrate advanced power technologies into support equipment and vehicles," he said, "and replace or limit use of diesel and gasoline fuels."
Mead and members of his small staff must be part researcher, marketeer and visionary. Air Force-wide, the APTO group has 18 fuel-cell projects, seven hydrogen generation units, 17 advanced battery demonstrations, 16 distributive generators, three solar applications and 18 electric-drive devices...
"We brainstorm and identify areas such as photovoltaics," said Bill Likos, a mechanical engineer. "We may find that a certain technology is almost there but it needs higher efficiency. So we put the topic on our Web site, companies respond and we select proposals."
Funding comes from two sources: Congressionally designated dollars and Small Business Innovation Research money. Those sources are providing about $12 million this year.
Read the whole article: http://www.macon.com/mld/macon/news/local/states/georgia/counties/houston_peach/12262131.htm
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