ReSource

Military logistic support has a large human cost in contested environments with no ability to create valuable materials when and where needed. DARPA’s ReSource program aims to revolutionize how the military procures critical supplies on the battlefield by engineering self-contained, integrated systems that rapidly produce large quantities of supplies from feedstock collected on-site. Envisioned on-demand products include lubricants, adhesives, tactical fibers, potable water, and edible macronutrients. Developed technologies will function simply, reliably, and needing limited servicing in isolated environments. If successful, warfighters will be able to turn forage wastes into lubricants and nutrition, supporting independent expeditionary units and Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) stabilization operations.

ReSource performers will work toward producing a system that will pre-treat and breakdown mixed waste, including recalcitrant carbon-rich polymers like those in common plastics, reform and assemble upgradeable organic molecules into strategic materials and chemicals, and recover purified usable products. The goal is to provide a versatile, operationally relevant, durable system that converts single-use packaging, and other waste, into strategic and critical materials. ReSource will pursue technologies that support this DoD objective by delivering a cross-scale approach for warfighter support extending mission duration and expanding operational flexibility.