MIT News November 14, 2019 Previously proposed solutions lacked the combination of isotopic sensitivity and information security. Researchers at MIT present the experimental feasibility proof of a technique that uses neutron induced nuclear resonances that is sensitive to the combination of isotopics and geometry. The information is physically encrypted to prevent the leakage of sensitive information. The approach can significantly increase the trustworthiness of future arms control treaties while expanding their scope to include the verified dismantlement of nuclear warheads themselves…read more. Open Access TECHNICAL ARTICLE
Tag Archives: Military technology
Nuclear warheads? This robot can find them
EurekAlert November 12, 2019 A team of researchers in the US (Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory, Princeton University) is developing a prototype of autonomous, three-foot rolling robots armed with smart detectors to support nuclear safeguards and verify arms-control agreements. The demonstration confirmed that the robot could detect the source of neutrons and provided data. The “inspector bot” consists of a cylinder of polyethylene plastic containing three neutron counters set 120 degrees apart and mounted on a robot with specialized wheels that enable it to move in any direction. The detectors provide high sensitivity to the energy of detected neutrons and the […]
Air Force issues strategy for artificial intelligence
Fedscoop September 19, 2019 The strategy is meant to be an annex to the Department of Defense’s AI strategy in support of its Joint AI Center. It will serve as a mechanism to align the Air Force with the larger AI efforts across the department and leverage the JAIC‘s progress as an AI center of excellence. The goal is to provide fundamental principles, enabling functions, and objectives necessary to effectively manage, maneuver, and lead in the digital age…read more.
Autonomous quadruped designed to team with Soldiers
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 […]
China Claims Metamaterial Breakthroughs for Stealth Fighters
Next Big Future July 30, 2019 Researchers in China claim that they created the world’s first mathematical model to precisely describe how electromagnetic waves behave when they strike a piece of metal engraved with microscopic patterns. In one test, the new technology cut the strength of a reflected radar signal – measured in decibels – by between 10 and nearly 30dB in a frequency range from 0.3 to 40 gigahertz…read more.
US Navy and Missile Defense Agency Megawatt Lasers by 2023-2024
Next Big Future August 8, 2019 In 2018, the US Navy and Missile Defense Agency had targeted demonstrating megawatt lasers by 2023-2024. The US Army recently had an announcement of a contract for 250-300 kilowatt lasers on a large truck by 2024. This means that four container-sized laser power systems could be combined on a Navy ship or at a Missile Defense base for a megawatt laser. A large US Army truck is the same size as a shipping container. A mobile 250-kilowatt laser has all the power, fuel and electronics for module that could be used for a megawatt […]
The Pentagon has a laser that can identify people from a distance—by their heartbeat
MIT Technology Review June 26. 2019 An individual’s cardiac signature is unique, it remains constant and cannot be altered or disguised. Researchers have developed a device called Jetson for the Pentagon which uses laser vibrometry to detect the surface movement caused by the heartbeat. It works at 200 meters (219 yards), longer distances could be possible with a better laser. A special gimbal was added so that an invisible, quarter-size laser spot could be kept on a target. It takes about 30 seconds to get a good return. They developed algorithms capable of extracting a cardiac signature from the laser […]
3D Printing of Hypersonic Missile Swarms
Next Big Future June 19, 2019 The vision is to make swarms of up to 30 hypersonic scramjets the size of cruise missiles, launched from air, land and sea. The missiles will share data with each other, correcting their flights, perhaps changing targets midcourse. And they can be manufactured relatively quickly and for much less cost than most of the hypersonic vehicles that have been built so far. 3D Printing will make construction faster and significantly less expensive to manufacture. The weapon has completed ground testing and will fly soon…read more.
Metal foam stops .50 caliber rounds as well as steel – at less than half the weight
Phys.org June 5, 2019 A team of researchers in the US (North Carolina State university, U.S. Army) investigated the effectiveness of the Composite Meta Foam (CMF) hard armor armor system consisting of a ceramic faceplate, a CMF core and a thin back plate made of aluminum. The armor was tested using .50 caliber ball and armor-piercing round with the rounds being fired at impact velocities from 500 meters per second up to 885 meters per second. The CMF layer was able to absorb 72-75% of the kinetic energy of the ball rounds, and 68-78% of the kinetic energy of the […]
Underwater power generation
Science Daily May 13, 2019 Inspired by marine organisms that have switchable energy extraction modes (aerobic respiration for long‐term living or anaerobic respiration to propose instantaneously high output power for fast movement),researchers in China have designed an auto‐switchable dual‐mode seawater energy extraction system to provide high energy density and power density both by initiatively choosing different solutes in seawater as electron acceptors. The key to the discovery is a cathode made of Prussian blue, an open framework structure with cyanide ions as “struts” and iron ions as “nodes,” which can easily accept and release electrons. When combined with a metal […]