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High Power, Long Endurance Micro Fuel Cell for Micro Air Vehicles

Award Information
Agency: Department of Defense
Branch: Air Force
Contract: FA8651-07-C-0098
Agency Tracking Number: F061-144-2792
Amount: $750,000.00
Phase: Phase II
Program: SBIR
Solicitation Topic Code: AF06-144
Solicitation Number: 2006.1
Timeline
Solicitation Year: 2006
Award Year: 2007
Award Start Date (Proposal Award Date): 2007-02-26
Award End Date (Contract End Date): 2009-05-26
Small Business Information
7607 Eastmark Drive, Suite 102
College Station, TX 77840
United States
DUNS: 184758308
HUBZone Owned: No
Woman Owned: No
Socially and Economically Disadvantaged: No
Principal Investigator
 Jeremy Steinshnider
 Sr. Research Scientist
 (979) 693-0017
 jeremy.steinshnider@lynntech.com
Business Contact
 G. Hitchens
Title: Vice President
Phone: (979) 693-0017
Email: duncan.hitchens@lynntech.com
Research Institution
N/A
Abstract

Micro Air Vehicles (MAVs) are becoming increasingly important for military and commercial sectors. Current battery technology is unable to provide necessary time of operation for some MAVs and ground mobile robotic platforms resulting in a strong desire for longer lasting power sources. Lithium-based rechargeable and primary battery chemistries are at the limits of performance with only slight gains seen in the foreseeable future. Fuel cells have offered the potential to significantly improve energy storage density if a viable fuel or hydrogen storage method is found, but they have also been limited by their power density for applications such as MAVs in which both power and lightweight energy storage is needed. For MAVs to become a practical tool for either tactical or reconnaissance missions, a leap in power density and energy storage density is needed. A micro fuel cell power supply that is integrated into the wing structure along with a chemical hydride energy storage systems offers the highest energy density option. This system will allow a MAV to fly for longer durations before refueling. Developing this novel micro fuel cell power system for MAVs will provide a critical tool with which airmen can maintain battlespace awareness and ensure force protection.

* Information listed above is at the time of submission. *

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