Airman Design and Prototype Combination USB Charging Port and LED Maplight for only $3,000 Each

The proliferation of electronic flight bags throughout military service has come with not only convenience, but problems, as well. The long voyages for some aircraft in Air Force inventory bring a new set of problems for power-hungry tablets vital to continued navigation, and the 307th Bomb wing has a solution for their vintage B-52s thanks to an Air Force think tank program aimed at rapid prototyping for real-world solutions. 

Most pilots are familiar with the rapid drain seen on their devices in flight, as their equipment is forced to perform a series of tasks at once. EFBs often operate at maximum screen brightness while they track GPS location, render graphics, and maintain communication where possible. Older aircraft have little provision to feed tablets power in flight, but winners of the USAF's StrikeTank competition have been funded to create a prototype solution: A combination USB port and LED maplight, designed for fitment on the B-52 flight deck.  The program funded a duo of Reserve Airmen of the 307th with a $15,000 grant to design and prototype their concept for a small, modular widget that could quickly and affordably be integrated into the cockpit with minimal cost. Lieutenant Colonel Warren Carrol and Major Brandon Wolf headed the job, ultimately creating the first example of the system at an estimated cost of $3,000. 

The USB port is an improvement for more than just retaining electronic charts, checklists, and searchable manuals - it enhances in flight safety, too. Many units, faced with missions beyond 30 hours, have been forced to pack numerous battery accessories to feed their devices throughout the flight, as no B-52 upgrades have included provisions for power or charging in the aircraft. The need for multiple battery packs to ensure sufficient power supply, (often of unknown but affordable origin) results in an increased likelihood of battery fires. 

The tendency for cheaper, low quality batteries to spontaneously combust isn't new, but has grounded aircraft in the past, whether brought aboard with consumer electronics or built into the airframe itself. Battery fires are difficult to stop, and the B-52 lacks the necessary systems to eject the burning equipment or manage a smoldering fire, offering crews very few options to stop a disaster. That risk is entirely avoidable, said Carroll, telling the StrikeTank program “by having USB ports, we significantly reduce the chance of a fire potentially destroying a jet." The team says their preliminary tests should be completed in the next 6-9 months, should funding prove sufficient. With the remaining prize money, the team expects to build enough to outfit a couple tester aircraft.  There are no mass production plans in motion now, but it remains likely that the 307th is far from the only unit tired of hauling batteries. 

FMI: www.afrc.af.mil