Gordon Secures $1.6 Million For TTU Army Research
November 8, 2007, COOKEVILLE – U.S. Rep. Bart Gordon has secured $1.6 million for researchers at Tennessee Technological University to develop more sophisticated portable power sources for the U.S. Army.
“The batteries our soldiers need on the battlefield are often heavy and cumbersome,” said Gordon. “Our military servicemembers are the best trained and best equipped in the world, but we can do more to lighten their loads. I commend the researchers at TTU for working to provide our soldiers with lighter, longer-lasting power sources.”
The federal funding will allow TTU to continue its efforts to supply the military with working models of the next generation of small-scale power sources ranging from 10 to 10,000 watts. Researchers at TTU have been working with the U.S. Army Communications-Electronics Research, Development and Engineering Center Fuel Cell Team to develop smaller, lighter, longer-lasting power sources for battlefield use. The military group is at the forefront of developing portable power sources for the Army.
“This is important research that could impact our fighters by easing their burden,” said TTU President Bob Bell. “We appreciate Bart Gordon and others who have championed this work, and we are delighted Congress is continuing the funding.”
The House of Representatives approved the funding today. The funding is included in a compromise of House and Senate versions of an annual funding bill for the U.S. Department of Defense. The Senate is expected to approve the conference report, and it will then go to the president for his signature.
TTU is collaborating with Vanderbilt University, the University of Missouri and the International Technology Center in Virginia on the research.
