Adaptive Energy Wins US Army Contract to Develop Portable SOFCs

“NOTE: In August 2022, Adaptive Energy LLC was acquired by Edge Autonomy.”

Adaptive Energy Wins United States Army Technology Transfer Contract to Develop Hand-Carried Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Power Solution

ANN ARBOR, Mich. – Adaptive Energy, LLC, the leading developer of solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC) for low-watt backup, offgrid and portable power, today announced that it has been awarded a Phase II grant from the Army Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) program. Based in Ann Arbor, Michigan, Adaptive Energy will use the $1.1 million award to develop a next-generation SOFC that is highly portable.

“We are singularly focused on commercializing SOFC technology to bring powerful, robust solutions to market,” said Michael Edison, chief executive officer of Adaptive Energy. “Our customers, including several federal agencies, depend on our high power-to-weight products for critical missions. It is an honor to partner with the United States Army to further our research and development efforts.”

The STTR Program aligns innovative small businesses with cutting-edge technologies from universities and other research institutions to enable the U.S. Army to excel even in the most remote and harsh environments. The highly competitive Phase II award is focused on the development, demonstration and delivery of an innovation from Phase I.

“Our Phase I research demonstrated that our microtubular SOFC technology can be applied to solve the Army’s energy needs in a weight-conscious manner,” said Tom Westrich, Ph.D., chief technology officer and head of engineering at Adaptive Energy. “We took the lab research a step further and built a demonstration system to highlight the SOFC technology’s potential in the field. The resulting designs and prototypes reinforced that Adaptive Energy is able to provide innovative, durable power generators to the Army.”

This new 1kW SOFC system will be light enough to be hand-carried, offering 20 hours of power for a standard 72-hour mission. Currently, this need is filled with either heavy batteries or loud internal combustion generators, which can be liabilities on missions that require soldiers to move quickly and silently. An SOFC-based solution enables quiet, low-weight power generation in critical situations.

To achieve this high level of portability, Adaptive Energy will collaborate with the Colorado School of Mines (CSM) to optimize the SOFC power-to-weight ratio using advanced thermodynamic and electrochemical modeling. Additionally, the Colorado Fuel Cell Center at CSM will contribute expertise to improve fuel cell longevity without compromising performance.

“The research team at the Colorado Fuel Cell Center is delighted to work with our commercial partner, Adaptive Energy, in moving fuel cell and electrolyzer technologies forward to address our nation’s energy needs,” said Neal Sullivan, associate professor and director of the Colorado Fuel Cell Center. “The rapid innovation and creativity of Adaptive Energy is inspirational for the students, faculty and staff at Colorado School of Mines. We look forward to extending this Phase I technical progress to meet the needs of the U.S. Army in the Phase II program.”

Adaptive Energy plans to commercialize the research that comes out of this Phase II contract, applying it to all existing commercially available SOFC products and offering it across industries and for current customers, including U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Federal Aviation Administration and the USDA Forest Service.

ABOUT ADAPTIVE ENERGY

Adaptive Energy is the world’s leading designer and manufacturer of SOFC for low-watt backup, offgrid and portable power. Based in Ann Arbor, Michigan, the company originates out of technology developed at the University of Michigan in 1999 and now has more than 1,200 SOFC systems deployed, $80M invested in R&D and 12 active patents. Customers around the world rely on Adaptive Energy’s resilient, rugged and flexible energy solutions, which are made possible through its innovative microtubular technology. These low-carbon SOFC products — fueled by propane and natural gas — are used in telecommunications, security, transportation, oil/gas pipeline and military applications.

ABOUT COLORADO SCHOOL OF MINES

The Colorado Fuel Cell Center at Colorado School of Mines develops electrochemical devices to address our nation’s needs in electricity generation and energy storage. Batteries, fuel cells, electrolyzers and membrane reactors are all active topics of research and development. The Colorado Fuel Cell Center draws from faculty in a number of complementary disciplines to bring diverse perspectives to the field and create a comprehensive research portfolio. Active departments include Mechanical Engineering , Electrical Engineering, Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, Materials Science and Chemical and Biological Engineering.

Electronic warfare (EW) is pervasive in modern battlespaces, so how can we ensure that missions remain flexible and successful when a single, all-encompassing solution to GPS and GNSS interference does not currently exist?

“Even the quest for a silver bullet to solve the problem of GPS interference is a flawed concept,” says Allen Gardner, Chief Technology Officer at Edge Autonomy, a leading provider and OEM of autonomous uncrewed aircraft systems, advanced optics, and resilient energy solutions.

“The more effective tactic is to have the capacity to quickly incorporate new innovations to augment your solution. “As new technology emerges, you integrate. As the adversary changes, you adapt.”

The Increasing Rise of Interference

The deliberate jamming of Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS)—when a competing signal broadcasts “noise” that overpowers the GNSS/GPS signal, rendering it unusable—is a routine challenge to military and commercial operations alike.

While slightly more difficult to execute, signal spoofing—when an adversary broadcasts on the same signal to confuse data, resulting in inaccurate positioning or time—is no less threatening to mission success.

Both spoofing and jamming are on the rise – in both battle zones and commercial aviation – and must be actively addressed to maintain an upper hand and ensure that aircraft and weapons are not compromised.

The electronic warfare market had an estimated value of $18.45B in 2024 and is expected to reach $27.35B by 2031¹. With EW strategies presenting a constant threat—one capable of immense financial and strategic damage—it is critical that we explore a wide range of options to keep this threat at bay.

Electronic Warfare and Real-World Implications

From Finland to Poland to Turkey – and of course in the Ukraine conflict – Eastern Europe has seen GNSS and GPS interference become a significant disruptor.

Russian jamming of satellite-guided weapons has had a significant impact on Ukraine’s ability to defend its territory, decreasing the effectiveness of existing solutions and sending military officials on a renewed hunt for newer and more sophisticated technology².

“When you’re facing an adversary who will stop at nothing to interfere with your mission and endanger the men and women defending freedom on the front lines it is imperative that we bring every available resource into play to protect our allies, whether they are foreign or domestic,” says Tuna Djemil, Vice President of Business Development & Strategy for Edge Autonomy. “The battlefield is constantly evolving, which means we innovate in step with real-world mission needs.”

Adaptation and Integration at the Speed of the Modern Battlefield

As geopolitical crises escalate, so will the complications caused by GPS/GNSS interference. Emerging drone warfare will perpetuate jamming and spoofing attacks as uncrewed aircraft and autonomous vehicles play an increasingly central role in current conflicts.

Despite the lack of a silver bullet solution to GPS/GNSS interference, defending military operations while increasing mission flexibility in the face of mounting EW is possible. How can the U.S. military, NATO, and other allies maintain an edge over insidious adversaries?

Rapid adaptation is a must as we confront the widespread EW threats that exist in today’s battlespaces. By developing new technologies that are not dependent on GPS/GNSS – including solutions that utilize position, navigation, and timing (PNT) – we can stay ahead of nefarious spoofing and jamming techniques.

Beyond GPS: Advances in Position, Navigation, and Timing for Maximum UAS Flexibility

PNT technologies serve to augment and complement GPS and range from self-contained navigation techniques to radar sensing to advanced tracking solutions through Artificial Intelligence to front-end cyber solutions and beyond.

“The key is flexibility,” explains Djemil. “This interference game of cat-and-mouse calls for the ability to quickly pivot existing technology, adapt new technology, and keep your finger on the pulse of how to combine the two in order to thwart our adversaries.”

Modularity to Meet Mission Needs

Why is adaptability so critical to advanced navigation systems capable of withstanding the constant threat of GPS/GNSS interference? While several reliable defenses do exist for the UAS and their navigation, none are effective in every circumstance or environment. Adapting a modular open systems approach (MOSA) means that rather than relying on a single technology, users can augment and build upon the base system over time as new technologies become available.

The most EW-resilient UAS will be aircraft capable of seamlessly integrating the new and ever-evolving defensive technologies that arise to counter debilitating attacks. Advanced platforms like a PNT fusion engine ensure accuracy by combining data from multiple sensors for reliable, robust, and accurate position and time determination, even in environments where GPS signals may be either interfered with or unavailable.

“When a UAS can combine multiple GPS-denied technologies so that the strength of one overcomes the weaknesses of another, what you get is an adaptable and uniquely robust solution,” Gardner explains.

Edge Autonomy’s Battle Proven Stalker UAS

Rather than rely on a single technology, Edge Autonomy’s Stalker uncrewed system can fly in GPS/GNSS-denied environments by employing a PNT fusion engine that interfaces with multiple technologies (both current and future), uniting them in a navigation solution that provides the warfighter with the data needed to make decisions quickly and accurately to meet mission needs even in a rapidly changing environment.

The modular architecture of the Stalker design provides the agility needed to pivot quickly, advancing the mission no matter the circumstance.

“Intentional awareness of real-world adversarial threats uniquely positions us to come alongside our customers,” says Joshua Stinson, Chief Growth Officer at Edge Autonomy. “We designed the Stalker with maximum flexibility in mind, knowing that the ability to integrate new technologies and adapt to emerging threats, especially when it comes to electronic warfare, is vital for mission success in today’s dynamic environments.”

Learn more about the battle proven Stalker, and how a modular open systems approach can positively impact positioning, navigation, and timing – even under contested or austere circumstances.

¹https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/industry-reports/electronic-warfare-market

²https://www.stripes.com/theaters/europe/2024-05-24/russian-jamming-high-tech-weapons-ukraine-13964032.html

About Edge Autonomy

Edge Autonomy is a leader in providing innovative autonomous systems, advanced optics, and resilient energy solutions to the US Department of Defense, US Federal Civilian Agencies, allied governments, academic institutions, and commercial entities. Edge Autonomy draws on a 34+ year history of aerospace engineering, advanced manufacturing expertise, and technologically advanced manufacturing.

With our headquarters in San Luis Obispo, CA and key production capabilities abroad, Edge Autonomy’s 300+ team members can deliver results at home and abroad. Learn more at EdgeAutonomy.io.