Bouncing Backpack Could Reduce Loads for Soldiers

Brilliant! When will it filter down to us civilians? Providing, that is, it won't be twice the mass of an ordinary backpack.

This is indeed an excellent concept, as an ex soldier myself the only problem that I could forseehave you having is the part where it goes "...... allow soldiers to carry more equipment...."

As we would say in South Africa ........"Eiiiiish!"

I can envisage this research having a use for soldiers and hikers alike to generate electricity for their rechargeable battery packs...

Digital cameras, mobile phones etc... if you're hiking in the mountains it would certainly save you having to carry and use a hand cranked generator!!

John.

That's a great idea. If only batteries didn't weigh so much. I'd love to see some innovations in batteries. They seem big and heavy as compared to electronics which have gotten light and versatile. Imagine a lightweight battery built into the pack that could be charged by regular walking and could provide electricity at the campsite. That would be great (though I guess it might defeat the whole purpose of "getting away from it all").

Agreed, just a thought here, in S.A. a chap invented a wind up radio. I believe one wind is good for about an hour of radio. How difficult would it be to apply this idea for military communications considering a R/T requires more power that your standard portable receiving radio.

Military has had hand cranked generators for their field radios for just about as long as they had field radios. I recall in particular a ww2 movie where a crew of downed US airmen on a Japanese controlled island needed to hurry up and crank up a charge so they could transmit their position before being spotted. I know that isn't proof, but movies generally try to make some attempt at being period accurate.

Or better yet, if you ran out of butter for your sandwiches on your trek you could put a little milk into a butter churn and after a brisk walk Voila! butter!

How about washing your 'smalls'? as you walk the movement agitates the soapy water and cleans your socks etc....

Okay, ok time for a caffeine fix!!! John

No problem! Obviously you powered up the coffee maker using the generator built into the backpack!

Just one awkward question:

Damping - what happens when the resonant frequency of the
springs/load doesn't match your gait properly?

Platform shoes. They will change your gait! By the way, Trevor Baylis invented the wind up radio, he is a top bloke, full of enthusiasm, energy and idea's, and he is, of course, a Brit! (I have one of the first wind ups myself)

You beat me to it plbmak!!! I was poised ready to sing out about Trevor...

John.

Plbmak... do you work shifts or something??

Its just that I have come to look at the times people post to guess where in the world they are and you sometimes post very early in the morning, which makes me think of India (early) or California (late)!!

John.

No mate, I'm in from 7.30 to 5.00 on days, GMT. I'm not sure about the posted times either! Anyway, today I finish at 1.30, back on the fourth,

Merry Christmas to all

Merry Christmas.....