ENVG-B Rechargable Helmet Battery (ICU)

The ENVG-B Rechargeable Helmet Battery (“ICU”) has been developed in support of the ENVG-B night vision device. The ENVG-B incorporates state-of-the-art technologies and enhancements, resulting in an optical device that provides the Soldier with unprecedented situational awareness during limited visibility conditions, increased lethality through faster target acquisition, and other game-changing advantages on the battlefield. Unfortunately, this additional capability comes at a cost. The ENVG-B’s Battery Pack Assembly (BPA) is unable to deliver the power needed to support current mission profiles. Energized by four L91 non-rechargeable lithium-ion batteries, the BPA is a critical piece of the ENVG-B’s architecture, delivering power and data to the highly sophisticated control unit. After extensive review and trial runs, it was determined that a redesigned BPA would significantly delay fielding the ENVG-B to the Force. Through successful preliminary studies and extensive Soldier testing and evaluations, Inventus Power has designed and produced a rechargeable auxiliary battery pack that is fully compatible with the ENVG-B architecture. The ICU is a field rechargeable, helmet mounted, ballistically safe, lithium-ion battery pack that securely fits to the existing BPA for a clean, ergonomically balanced fit on the back of the helmet. Weighing less than 1lb (0.8lbs), the ICU utilizes an electrical terminal contact probe that drops into the existing L91 battery silos, thereby utilizing the existing BPA architecture. This simple design provides the Soldier with a counter-balancing effect of the helmet and increases the ENVG-B run time by over 400% compared to standard L91 batteries.