This program will produce a portable, efficient, lightweight, flexible, cost effective solar power source. Small area, prototype devices, weighing the equivalent of less than 100 grams per square meter have been reduced to practice. At even modest efficiencies our system will be capable of producing hundreds of watts per kilogram. If necessary our system can employ hardened components for harsh military environments. It is anticipated that this military hardened system will still be less than 0.45Okg (~1 lb) in weight for a one square meter system, at a cost of less than $200 per unit. The flexible nature of the power source makes it possible to carry it in rolled or folded shapes. Rapid deployment of the power source can be achieved by simply unfolding or unrolling the device. The color of the device can be user defined from brown to blackish-green allowing mission specific camouflage. By applying an adhesive backing, our device can be placed on a soldiers apparel. It can also be placed over the wings of an aircraft without compromising aerodynamic integrity. Our system will be an enabling technology to increase mission range and duration for such military systems as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) or remote field operations.
Keywords: Light Weight; Solar; Compact; Low Cost; Large Area
