The 21st century battles will be fought with technology.
Perhaps, taking a cue from this, experts at the PSG College of Technology in Coimbatore have come out with some smart fatigues for soldiers on the battlefront that can generate power for communication gadgets.
The Department of Textiles has developed smart pants and shoes fixed with 'power generators' to produce energy for communication devices replacing conventional batteries.
Talking to UNI on Friday, Department Professors Ashok Kumar and A Venkatachalam, who mentored the project, claimed the invention will ease the burden of soliders on the warfront who usually have to carry 12 kg batteries for communication devices.
A fixed magnet and induction coil, stitched into the pants, will generate power from
the body movements. This will be used to recharge the batteries in the shoes from where the output pins have been provided for charging the communication devices, including mobile phones.
These lightweight batteries can produce up to nine volts of power with further scope to enhance it to 12 volts. The whole device is attached in such a manner that it will in no way deter the free movements of the armed personnel.
The system, working on the induction principle, is free from the danger of exploding even when heavy force is applied, Kumar said, adding that the invention can also be used by sportspersons for monitoring blood pressure and pulse rate while running.
The device has been sent to the Defence Research and Development Organisation for approval and supply to the armed forces, they said.