Dubai Future Foundation is looking for Extreme Weather-Proof Batteries

Dubai Future Foundation is looking for Extreme Weather-Proof Batteries

Dubai Future Foundation launched a new initiative, calling innovators and tech companies to take part in the first challenge to build extreme weather-proof batteries.

Battery life can be a limiting factor in the functionality of many applications dependent on energy storage, one of those applications are drones. Extreme weather conditions such as hot and humid weather doesn’t make it any easier. 

The main objective of this challenge is to design a drone battery that can withstand extreme temperatures and fly for a certain challenging range.

Traditional lithium-ion batteries are problematic in extreme heat or cold. In this challenge organizers are looking to overcome such limitations with a new generation of lithium-ion, lithium sulfur, and solid-state batteries.

Main Technical Objectives of The Challenge:

  • Design and develop a prototype for a weather-proof battery technology that can operate under challenging flight environments and within the range of -10°C to 60°C

  • A detailed technical document will be shared with registered participants, which includes the specific technical specifications of the batteries, and the requirements to qualify to the final phase

  • The drones targeted in this challenge should be able to serve several key applications such as delivery and transportation of goods, infrastructure, surveillance, etc

Main Technical Specifications of The Testing Drones:

  • The batteries shall be tested using Multi-Rotor drones that are powered by Lithium Batteries

  • The size and technology of drones will be standardized, all participants should use the same drone model, or same motor specifications

Timeline:

Phase 1: Call for application submission – March 1st until December 31st 2022

Phase 2: Evaluation and selection of the proposals – January 1st, 2023 until February 1st 2023

Phase 3: Prototype development – February 1st, 2023 until December 31st, 2023

Phase 4: Testing at selected test center – January 1st, 2024 until June 1st, 2024

Phase 5: Evaluation of Tests and announcement of the winners July 1st, 2024

Grand Prize

1 Million US Dollars for the 1st Place Winner.

More at Dubai Future.

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