Electricity almost everywhere, thanks to a hook
The cables that carry electricity reach almost everywhere, to bring power in our homes and our offices. But for those who are engaged in war zones, having access to power lines can often be life saving.
For example, American soldiers deployed in mountainous or desert areas, such as Iraq or Afghanistan, may face serious problems if their supply of electronic devices (laptops, navigation systems and various sensors) should end up with dead batteries and no chance to attach them to an electrical outlet for recharging.
To provide power in such situations, an engineer from an USAF research laboratory in Dayton, Ohio has created RAPS (Remote Auxiliary Power System), a device consisting essentially of a hook, a small blade and a cable.
When you are near a power line that carries electricity from one town to another, or from the power line to a home, those who use the RAPS will only have to place the hook on the cable. The small blade contained in it makes a small cut in the sheath that covers the cable, and a conductive surface on the inside of the hook comes in contact with the bare cable, thus harnessing electricity.
The energy is then sent through another shielded cable, directly to a transformer that converts AC power into DC, using it to recharge the batteries of any device that is connected to it.
The RAPS was also tested for use in bad weather, when rain makes the cables wet, and hooking to a high voltage cable may not sound like a great idea after all. Even in such occasions, the soldiers will be able to supply energy to their tools, to stay in communication with fellow soldiers and to help protect themselves from the dangers of war.
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