The military is always looking for new and ingenious gadgets to assist its forces. They are currently working on a solar-powered watch that is capable of displaying maps and other strategic information to soldiers and underwear that would help monitor soldiers vital signs.

Now the Air Force has come up with a power-sucking device called the Bat Hook.  The Bat Hook was specifically designed for special ops.  The small, hammer-like device is a weighted hook with a razor blade in it.

The hook was created in the event that a soldier is outside, away from an electrical outlet and is unable to access electricity or batteries to power up their equipment.  The device is strung on the end of a cord that a soldier would then throw overhead, like a grappling hook, onto a power line. 

The cut-out slips over the cable, the blade pierces the line, contacting the bare metal.   At the same time, a small blade pierces insulation of the other cable then completes the circuit that siphons power down to the soldier on the ground. 

According to Armed With Science, an Air Force engineer In Dayton, OH came up with this system which is called the Remote Auxiliary Power System (RAPS).   

“Research and development is an amazing field to work in and yes, it’s fun,” says mechanical designer Dave Coates. “Especially when you have a lot of people saying the task you’ve been given is impossible, and then you produce something like this.”

The design is apparently safe enough to use in the pouring rain.