EurekAlert September 24, 2019 In collaboration with universities and industry U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command’s Army Research Laboratory developed the Legged Locomotion and Movement Adaptation (LLAMA), an autonomous quadruped mobility research platform system patterned after a working dog and similar animals. It works in concert with soldiers, lighten physical workloads, and increase mobility, protection and lethality. The all electric system has high torque actuators and algorithms for advanced perception, intelligence and control for autonomy and teaming. It is designed for mobility in structured and unstructured environments. The readiness of the platform is dependent on its mission, a logistics mission […]
Tag Archives: Battlefield technology
Shape-shifting robots built from smarticles could navigate Army operations
EurekAlert September 18, 2019 Working under a U.S. Army project a team of researchers in the US (Georgia Institute of Technology, Northwestern University) built robots entirely from smaller robots known as smarticles, unlocking the principles of a potentially new locomotion technique. The 3D-printed smarticles can do just one thing: flap their two arms. But when five of these smarticles are confined in a circle, they begin to nudge one another, forming a robophysical system known as a “supersmarticle” that can move by itself. The devices can change their location only when they interact with other devices while enclosed by a […]
Locating a shooter from the first shot via cellphone
Phys.org May 13, 2019 Tactical Communication and Protective Systems (TCAPS), earmuffs or earplugs with built-in microphones allowing active hearing protection, have four microphones: two outside the ear canal and two inside it, underneath the hearing protection. Researchers in France have developed a proof of concept shooter location device because most modern combat weapons fire bullets at supersonic speeds, creating two acoustic wave – supersonic shock wave and the second one is a muzzle wave. The device uses the microphone underneath the hearing protection to detect the shock and muzzle waves generated by supersonic shots and record the time difference of […]
Warfighters need trusted sensors
Defense Systems April 16, 2019 More and more warfighters around the globe are starting to carry commercial smartphones leveraging the smartphone’s sensors to provide features ranging from blue force tracking to encrypted calling. The Pentagon has banned mobile devices from secure spaces, as smartphone sensors are a potential mother lode for hostile nation-states looking to gather mission-critical information. DOD is working with innovative industry partners on developing trusted sensors in form factors that include a wrist-worn wearable and an intelligent smartphone case that only allows interaction with approved, vetted and signed software. Because these devices operate independently of the vulnerable […]
Future soldiers with metamaterial invisibility and power suits
Next Big Future October 5, 2018 The US soldier will be getting more advanced technology and more electrical power for those systems over the next 20 years. Over the next five years the electrical power will double to about 25 watts and then 50 watts in 6-15 years and then 100 watts in 16 years. Squads will have 200-300 watts. Platoons are heading to 5 kilowatts…read more.
New Army technology guides soldiers in complete darkness
Phys.org September 26, 2018 Man-made objects emit thermal radiation that is partially polarized while natural objects tend to emit thermal radiation that exhibits very little polarization. Researchers at the Army Research Laboratory and their industry partner are developing a special type of thermal camera that can record imagery that is based solely on the polarization state of the light rather than the intensity. This additional polarimetric information will allow soldiers to see hidden objects that were previously not visible when using conventional thermal cameras. The camera can detect and identify specific human subjects during complete darkness…read more.
Naval Research Laboratory Seeks to Advance Field Diagnostics of Infectious Agents
Global Biodefense September 21, 2018 Under the Multiechelon Diagnostics (MEDx) Technology Development and Tiered Evaluation BAA the Naval Research Laboratory is seeking proposals for both genomic and immuno-analysis technologies. Devices must be low-complexity diagnostic devices usable by personnel following minimal training. It is not required that the device is handheld, but the physical parameters of weight and footprint will be evaluated. The final technology package should be for use in the field, often austere environments with limited resources… read more.