U.S. Army Testing Personal Cooling Suits

DJ BenBen writes to tell us that they Army is currently testing some 500 liquid cooled vests with Humvee crews in Iraq. From the article: "The Humvees with add-on armor were fitted with air conditioners after TARDEC engineers in Warren, Mich., were given the requirement to figure out how Soldiers in armored vehicles could be kept cool under the desert sun. Some of the same engineers had designed the add-on armor kits for the M-998 and M-1025 Humvees in theater. But with the extra armor and doors closed, temperatures inside the vehicles could reportedly reach more than 130 degrees. 'It's like putting somebody in a toaster oven on low heat,' said Charlie Bussee, an engineer at TARDEC."

Sounds cool but...

[rubberbando]

Is it such a good idea to 'Slashdot' a MILITARY website?

Lets hope they don't hit back....

Holy Pork Fatman!

[Marxist Hacker 42]

And exactly why would you ask scientists and engineers in MICHIGAN to test the effect of a DESERT environment? Utah I could understand. Or Nevada. Or Arizona. Or New Mexico. But Michigan?

Just hope they don't use red coolant.

[Anonymous Coward]

That could be a scare for some troops.

Re:Sounds cool but...

[Anonymous Coward]

At least our military friends now will not get hot under the collar...

Air Conditioned Bras

[tenchiken]

I have a lot of friends in Iraq right now and they tell me that the Iraqi's are 100% convienced that the US already has air conditioned boxers, briefs, panties and bras... how else can they move around in that heat!

Re:Sounds cool but...

[cliveholloway]

That's OK, it's only "Friendly fire" :)

Scorpius

[numbski]

By chance is it made of black snakeskin, cover your head, and keep you cool despite looking really, well hot?

Toasty

[Phae]

It's like putting somebody in a toaster oven on low heat

Boy, but you should see them complain when it's on high!

Re:Toasty

[iggymanz]

we did that test, but after 15 minutes on HIGH none of them were complaining. They just smelled like baked ham.

Re:Sounds cool but...

[JambisJubilee]

I hope the guys in the server room are wearing suits!

militray spending

[minus_273]

military spending is such a waste. I can't remember the last time i used something developed by the military. I think the net would be a better place without this kind of research.

Re:Sounds cool but...

[Tackhead]

> Is it such a good idea to 'Slashdot' a MILITARY website?
>
> Lets hope they don't hit back....

Especially if their sysadmin's wearing one of these watercooling vests. If you thought the Bastard Operator From Hell was bad-ass, you should see him when he's overclocked.

Re:Sounds cool but...

[ScaryFroMan]

Hmm. A DoS from the DoD.

Re:Well...

[geekoid]

Becasue drinking your own sweat is fun!

Re:Just hope they don't use red coolant.

[TubeSteak]

S'okay, they've got plenty of coolaid in reserve.

Re:Here's a problem

[CaymanIslandCarpedie]

Sure, the hoses are quick-release, but now he's got yet another layer of clothing on in the desert heat, a layer that probably doesn't help his maneuverability. Perhaps there's a better solution.

Ya know, I've been reading Popular Mechanics and I think in the next hundred years we'll see cooling systems mounted directly inside of the vehicles. These systems will cool the air and then blow it onto the vehicle's occupants. Now I don't suggest these are ready for common use yet, but one day it could be very useful for for are troops in such environments.

Re:militray spending

[Hamster Of Death]

Yea, those slackers. I'm so glad Al Gore invented the internet, just so we can show those lazy military folks how to accomplish something!

Re:No doubt!

[Doolspin]

round here it costs about $2.27...

So...

[CptPicard]

Now all American soldiers will look like Mr. Freeze and spew inane one-liners at Iraqis... "I'll put joo in da koolah!!"

Re:São Paulo summer

[955301]

The personal cooling unit: thermos
The cooling fluid: icewater
The deliver: drink it.

Re:Holy Pork Fatman!

[Anonymous Coward]

They meant "cultural desert". :P

Overclocking

[Anonymous Coward]

Does this mean we can overclock our soldiers?

Re:Do what all the other invaders did

[F_Scentura]

"I don't think 95 degrees is cool enough for any kind of clothing."

Well, people here in Miami are *nearly* naked, but we keep that mostly to our beaches and clubs.

Re:Military Development

[Dr. Cody]

I suggest you study the history of the procurement of the Beretta 9mm pistol, replacement for the old .45 auto.

One caveat...

Of all the fanboys I've ever met, none were ever as rabid as 1911 fanboys. A Muslim might strap himself to a bomb to fight infidels, a Christian might let themselves be thrown to the lions rather than give up his fate, but a 1911 fanboy will sit in his Lay-Z-Boy with the lights out for months just waiting for a burglar to shoot at so that he brag about it on m1911.org