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Boeing releases video of air-born tactical laser in action
In the (near) future, a laser weapon-carrying aircraft might be hidden by distance or darkness, and selected targets — cars, buildings, cell towers, etc. — would appear suddenly and inexplicably to burst into flames
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Pain weapon in a potable version may end up in police hands
The Pentagon’s efforts to develop a beam weapon that can deter an adversary by causing a burning sensation on their skin has taken a step forward with the development of a small, potentially hand-held, version
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High-tech nuke detectors check Puget Sound small vessels for WMD
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory coordinated activities with the Coast Guard and Customs and Border Protection, and many other state, local, and tribal agencies for the two-day nuclear detection exercise
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Camera manufacturers going HD
High definition technology gives users the capability to make out faces and license plates more easily, which in the future will also have implications for video analytics, making them more effective
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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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The long view
Nuclear Has Changed. Will the U.S. Change with It?
Fueled by artificial intelligence, cloud service providers, and ambitious new climate regulations, U.S. demand for carbon-free electricity is on the rise. In response, analysts and lawmakers are taking a fresh look at a controversial energy source: nuclear power.
Exploring the New Nuclear Energy Landscape
In the last few years, the U.S. has seen a resurgence of interest in nuclear energy and its potential for helping meet the nation’s growing demands for clean electricity and energy security. Meanwhile, nuclear energy technologies themselves have advanced, opening up new possibilities for their use.