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Honeywell Micro Air Vehicle deployed in Iraq
Small ducted-fan UAV — 16 pounds in weight, 13 inches in diameter — deployed in combat missions in Iraq; vehicle suitable for law enforcement and first response missions
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CyberBug receives FAA certification
FAA awards small, hand-launched UAV certificate to operate in national airspace; vehicle equally suitable for law enforcement and commercial applications
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Growing interest in autonomous undersea vehicles
UAVs are already widely used by the military, homeland security, and, increasdigly, law enforcement; could AUVs (autonomous underwater vehicles) be far behind?
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DARPA solicits bids for LANdroids
U.S. military, first responders may scatter droids carrying communication gear to form self-forming, self-healing WiFi network; project aims to improve communication in urban warfare settings
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First round of tests for entrants in DARPA's Urban Challenge
In DARPA’s Grand Challenge, driverless cars competed in traversing a 130-mile course in the Mojave Desert; in Urban Challenge, driverless cars will compete in navigating through urban traffic
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Autonomous see-shoot systems drawing interest
Remotely controlled weapon systems are deployed in the DMZ and around the Gaza strip; we may soon see humans taken out of the see-shoot chain, and such systems deployed around critical infrastructure facilities
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Self-healing plastic demonstrated
University of Illionis researchers show material that can repair itself multiple times without any external intervention
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Identec shows satellite-assisted RFID tag
Security agencies and shippers alike will be able to ascertain “absolute location identification” of tagged assets and personnel
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House deadlocked on DHS budget; Bush threatens veto
Hill Democrats want to add $23 billion, or 6%, to DHS budget over Bush’s February request; White House threatens veto
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Bear-faced robot developed for rescuing wounded troops, first responders
Extracting wounded soldiers from a battlefield — or wounded first responders from a disaster scene — may be dangerous, and a Maryland company is developing a robot to that just that
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EU regulation may limit use of MRI technology
To protect employees in the electricity and mobile-phone industries, the EU formulated regulations limiting exposure to radiation — regulation which may have unintended consequences
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World military spending reaches $1.2 trillion in 2006
SIPRI report says 2006 military spending rose 3.5% over 2005; U.S. spent $529 billion
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New technology to detect common but difficult to detect explosives
MIT researchers synthesized a molecule based on zinc to allow the detection not only of RDX, but of RDX vapors, which are about 1,000 times more difficult to detect than TNT vapors
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U.S. recommends commercial technologies for communication interoperability
While the debate on emergency communication interoperability continues, the U.S. Commerce Department recommends that the federal, state, and local public safety community consider using commercial technologies
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Affordable, downloadable navigation applications are coming
If millions of phones were to be equipped with cameras and navigation applications and E911, we would have an army of millions of forward spotters
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The long view
Encryption Breakthrough Lays Groundwork for Privacy-Preserving AI Models
In an era where data privacy concerns loom large, a new approach in artificial intelligence (AI) could reshape how sensitive information is processed. New AI framework enables secure neural network computation without sacrificing accuracy.
AI-Controlled Fighter Jets May Be Closer Than We Think — and Would Change the Face of Warfare
Could we be on the verge of an era where fighter jets take flight without pilots – and are controlled by artificial intelligence (AI)? US R Adm Michael Donnelly recently said that an upcoming combat jet could be the navy’s last one with a pilot in the cockpit.
The Potential Impact of Seabed Mining on Critical Mineral Supply Chains and Global Geopolitics
The potential emergence of a seabed mining industry has important ramifications for the diversification of critical mineral supply chains, revenues for developing nations with substantial terrestrial mining sectors, and global geopolitics.
AI and the Future of the U.S. Electric Grid
Despite its age, the U.S. electric grid remains one of the great workhorses of modern life. Whether it can maintain that performance over the next few years may determine how well the U.S. competes in an AI-driven world.
Using Liquid Air for Grid-Scale Energy Storage
New research finds liquid air energy storage could be the lowest-cost option for ensuring a continuous power supply on a future grid dominated by carbon-free but intermittent sources of electricity.
Enhanced Geothermal Systems: A Promising Source of Round-the-Clock Energy
With its capacity to provide 24/7 power, many are warming up to the prospect of geothermal energy. Scientists are currently working to advance human-made reservoirs in Earth’s deep subsurface to stimulate the activity that exists within natural geothermal systems.