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Magnetically levitating "Sky Pods" to solve traffic congestion, pollution
It would more economical — and cleaner — if people were using public transportation rather than drive their own cars; most people, though, are reluctant to give up the privacy of individual travel; the solution: individual “sky pods”
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Surveillance airship for Afghanistan
A hybrid airship — it is heavier than air, 80 percent of its lift coming from buoyancy and 20 percent from aerodynamics — will be deployed to Afghanistan; it is 250ft long, and designed to loiter at 20,000ft for up to 21 days carrying a 2,500lb ISR payload
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Earthquake-resistant building structure developed
The system dissipates energy through the movement of steel frames that are situated around the building’s core or along exterior walls; the frames rock off their foundation under large earthquakes
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Army heli-UAV hops to avoid obstacle trouble
The U.S. Army funds development of a hopping rotochute — a UAV designed to travel deep into obstacle-ridden spaces such as caves and rubble-laden buildings to video what it finds
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Fuel cells for UAVs
Massachusetts company awarded a contract to increase the power density of its existing fuel cell while also increasing the power output of the overall system
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DARPA looking for space sweeper
The age of space exploration allowed mankind to look deep into space, but it has also created a glut of space junk orbiting Earth and threatening future space missions; DARPA seeks ideas on cleaning space debris, noting that it looking for systems capable of dealing with everything from rubbish up to “derelict spaceship” size
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Biometric surveillance checkpoint technology would notice the imperceptible
Draper Laboratory and collaborators develop technology which will home in on irregular physiological and behavioral biometrics of the individual being screened, such as heart rate, blink rate, and even fidgeting
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Roboboat to fight pirates
An American company has developed an automated counterpiracy system that could be outfitted to a vessel and set loose on patrol
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The day of the "iSniff" nears
Pocket-size pollution sensors hold promise of big improvement in monitoring personal environment; wearable sensors to be used for identifying air-borne causes of disease
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More efficient nuclear fuel sought
DoE funds research to address the shortcomings of uranium dioxide — the fuel most commonly used to generate nuclear energy
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California police employs nonlethal weapon used against pirates
ATC’s long range acoustic device (LRAD) blast sounds at 150 decibels — 50 times the human threshold of pain — to fend off approaching pirates or massing insurgents; California law enforcement is now using the device at local political events
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U.K. equips soldiers with thermal rifle sights
The red dot sight is more accurate than iron sights, could be used with both eyes open, and is generally more effective at typical combat ranges (under a hundred meters)
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Turning water fountains into infection control units
Toronto’s Farrow Partnership Architects sees future in infection-control units
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Detecting counterfeit pharmaceuticals
Researchers develop a method which quickly and cheaply identifies counterfeit drugs in the health care industry
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Electronic nose detects toxins
Physicists have radiation badges to protect them in the workplace, but chemists and workers who handle chemicals do not have equivalent devices to monitor their exposure to potentially toxic chemicals; new electronic nose will change that
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The long view
Better technologies help first responders respond more quickly, safely, and effectively
When disaster strikes, first responders rush in to provide assistance. In addition to their courage and training, they depend on a panoply of technologies to do their jobs. Pacific Northwest National Laboratory has partnered with emergency management and public safety professionals to define, develop, test and deploy these technologies to improve response and recovery. The Lab also applies its scientific capabilities to assess emergencies as they unfold.