FORWARD-THINKING SOLUTIONS FOR THE MODERN BATTLEFIELD 

Revision’s approach to product development is to define and address operational needs for the warfighter. Revision has always been flexible enough to incorporate new, leading-edge technologies that offer proven enhanced capability. Through a constant ‘technology watch,’ Revision progressively integrates new advances in the military and commercial sectors, delivering meaningful operational solutions that are mission-focused. The Nerv Centr range of power management and delivery systems is one outcome of this approach. 

In the modern battlefield, technology must fight for space—on both the user and on various operational platforms. Soldiers today are sensor platforms—part of a mobile network of users and platforms. Therefore, they are also increasingly prolific consumers of electrical energy. Although devices have become more efficient, soldiers are required to account for a greater number of devices and components during demanding operations—as well as the power sources necessary to use them across long distances and for extended durations. Along with water and ammunition, power contributes significantly to the physical burden. 

Revision’s answer is a family of products that together enable users to treat power as a combat supply that can be found, harvested, stored, and used flexibly at the very lowest level. Soldiers trained and experienced in managing ammunition and water at the individual or squad level now can do the same with power. This energy efficiency at the sub-unit level not only ensures power is available when it is needed on a mission; it also has major impact on the energy consumption at higher formations, resulting in a much-reduced logistics tail and lower costs. The Nerv Centr family of products are built for military users who operate in the harshest environmental and operational environments. They are battlefield proven, reducing weight and equipment volume while increasing energy redundancy. 

HIGH-TECH DEVELOPMENT AND MANUFACTURING 

Revision’s Nerv Centr® Power Management solutions include a variety of products such as slim lithium batteries, power managers and intelligent battery charging systems. The  slim lithium-ion units can store, deliver and harvest power, lessening the weight burden by eliminating excess cabling and the need for spare batteries, while the power managers and battery charger are designed to draw power from any source to power a variety of equipment and recharge batteries simultaneously. The Nerv Centr® SoloPack™ energy module is a super high density unit that is the same size and weight as a 30 round magazine, and can provide enough energy for a 12-hour mission for a high tech user. The Nerv Centr® SharePack® is an energy source and flexible power management system that stores, harvests, combines, shares, and delivers power to multiple devices simultaneously. The Squad Power Manager™ (SPM) and Individual Power Manager™ (IPM) are small rugged power management solutions with intelligent software that allow the users at the squad and individual level to power a variety of equipment and recharge batteries with no reprogramming required. Finally, the Adaptive Battery Charger™, designed to withstand harsh conditions, can draw power from any source to charge multiple batteries while automatically evaluating the power source and adjusting charge rates to maximize power and minimize charge time. When worn on the soldier, these devices can provide a flexible way to deliver power; when ground-mounted, they can be combined to power ‘extreme’ power needs, such as ECM units.

Producing such a wide range of power systems and platforms requires significant and wide-ranging resources. Revision’s Ottawa (Revision Electronics and Power Systems Inc.) and Southborough (Revision Military Solidier Power, previously known as Protonex) facilities are home to Revision’s electrical engineering and power development and delivery team. Here, they design, develop, and manufacture advanced lithium-ion rechargeable energy storage systems for individual and platform applications, including armored vehicles, as well as the power managers and adaptive charger. The Ottawa and Southborough team work closely with manufacturing and electrical assembly teams to deliver products that are tested and certified to the highest possible military and civilian standards. All products undergo comprehensive internal testing before being released to users, and our constant innovation and advanced means software updates can be delivered in the field, increasing safety and delivering additional capabilities.

LITHIUM-ION SAFETY 

When manufactured, or delivered without a very clear understanding of the user need and the specific demands of the battlespace, lithium-ion technology can be dangerous. Revision understands these requirements and designs solutions ready to operate safely in all conditions. Cells are specifically selected for the intended operational use, or, when no suitable option exists with industry leading partners, cells are built from the ground up. Using a combination of hardware and software, Revision builds multi-layer safety and redundancy into all its products. This includes constant monitoring to make sure that the user does not inadvertently cause a dangerous situation. 

Delivering this level of safety and superior power management performance requires a dedicated team. Together, Revision’s engineers, operations experts, and suppliers focus on the system performance and mission requirements. For specific requirements, brand new cell chemistries have been developed and manufactured in state-of-the-art facilities to ensure that safety and performance are optimized as compared to more easily-compromised existing power technologies. 

LARGE-SCALE VEHICULAR POWER PLATFORMS 

The armored fighting vehicles designed today are packed full of sensors, communication systems, and power-hungry equipment; they are more akin to a ground-based fast jet than the steel boxes of the last decade. Since on-board lead-acid batteries are inadequate for supporting power-hungry devices on their own, operators are often forced to idle the main engine of the vehicle to generate the necessary power. This compromises the stealth of the vehicle on the on battlefield, as readily-used sensors can detect the vehicle’s thermal and acoustic signatures. Therefore, the survivability of the platform is dependent on its ability to power itself without running the engine. This requirement will continue to define power management solutions going forward, especially as the next generation of soldier systems and advanced weapons are adopted—such as Automatic Protection Systems and Directed Energy Weapons (lasers). 

Revision has developed a modular and scalable energy solution capable of powering the most demanding vehicle platforms. Maintenance free and fully integrated—physically and electrically—with the host platform, the Silent Watch Battery Pack can deliver 200 amps for 8 hours in the harshest environmental conditions, ensuring that thermal and acoustic signatures are managed. 

The Revision Silent Watch Battery Pack provides more silent watch time than 30 standard 6T-format absorbed glass mat (AGM) batteries, at less than half the weight, and is capable of operating in intense heat and extreme cold. The Silent Watch Battery Pack’s modular design allows quick and cost effective translation to a range of platforms and uses. This ‘plug-and-play’ modular solution can monitor its own health and battery voltage, predict its remaining capacity, communicate to other batteries and monitors, and display and share key information with the user and platform.