The U.S. Air Force has contracted Wright Electric to develop high-performance rechargeable batteries made with additive manufacturing (AM).
Wright Electric, founded in 2016 with the goal of reducing the aviation industry’s climate impact, is already working on ultra-lightweight motors and batteries for electric aircraft, partnering with organizations such as NASA and the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E).
The current contract, awarded under the AFWERX SBIR Phase 1 program, aims to investigate the feasibility of rechargeable thermal batteries for UAVs. These batteries are characterized by their high power output and could be used in various military applications.
“We’ve heard from many aerospace and defense customers that they want compact batteries with extremely high power output”, says Aaron Rowe, PhD, Engineering Manager, Batteries, Wright Electric. “Thanks to support from the Air Force, we can take our first steps with a new program to deliver batteries that are extremely compact and capable of ultra high discharge rates.”
Wright Electric plans to use additive manufacturing to produce small series of rechargeable batteries that can serve as a replacement for existing thermal batteries. These batteries, which are traditionally used as disposable items in military equipment, are to become not only more efficient but also more flexible in production thanks to the new technologies. Rowe explained that instead of developing a completely new battery technology, the aim is to develop a process that allows exotic batteries to be produced in limited quantities at a reasonable price. A rapidly adaptable production line will meet the specific needs of customers and make the supply chain for critical defense components more resilient.
This initiative illustrates how Wright Electric, through the use of 3D printing and other advanced manufacturing technologies, is able to develop innovative solutions to complex challenges in the aerospace and defense industry.
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