Analysis of Geo-Location Data from Military Tactical Vehicles to Derive Wireless Recharging Requirements

As the military community considers the use of electrified tactical vehicles, wireless power transfer has emerged as a desirable method for recharging these vehicles. This technique enables multiple vehicles to recharge while in close proximity during motor pool or patrol base operations. A mobile wireless recharging platform could be deployed to these vehicle concentrations for recharging. This study evaluates the feasibility and requirements of such a system by examining the duration that vehicles remain close enough for effective power transfer. Vehicle geo-location data from the National Training Center for an infantry brigade combat team, encompassing over 400 tactical vehicles, is used to map vehicle movements. The study involves the extraction, cleaning, and analysis of this data to identify periods when vehicles are grouped closely enough to facilitate wireless recharging. The analysis quantifies the time vehicles spend in proximity and the average distance between them to determine initial requirements for a wireless recharging system. The study also approximates the energy consumed during operations and the amount of energy required for recharging to estimate the power throughput needed from the wireless power transfer system. The analysis found that tactical vehicles are stationary and in close proximity for long periods during the 10-day mission. With advances in wireless recharging technology supporting wider distances and higher power throughput, wireless recharging has the potential to be a viable option for tactical vehicle recharging.