"Innovation doesn't always have to be highly complex," says Sven Weizenegger, Head of the Cyber Innovation Hub.
"Sometimes it's the simple things that can save lives." The technology behind the faLKE project comes from the Hamburg-based company Carpetlight. It was available on the market and had already been extensively tested by the film industry. Under the direction of the CIHBw, the light carpet was then adapted to the needs of the military as a so-called "dual-use case". The product is not only extremely robust, but can also be folded to pocket size. The light tones are tailored to the needs of soldiers in the field and offer protection against possible detection.
faLKE has been successfully tested by the Navy's Special Forces Command and at the Armored Forces School in Munster. In combat operations, mobile light sources are important, for example, when injuries have to be treated under improvised conditions. Until now, headlamps have often been used for this purpose - but they only provide light in the direction of the person carrying them. This is a particular problem in stressful emergency situations.
With the faLKE innovation project, uniform lighting conditions can now also be created in emergencies, making it easier to treat injuries quickly. The Ukrainian armed forces will soon also benefit from this.