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Brown researchers say bats, not bees, provide best MAV inspiration
Flexible wing structure seems to be the key, but researchers differ on which animal provides the best model; difference between bat’s upstroke and downstroke provides a valuable clue; Air Force Office of Scientific Research lends a hand
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Industry criticizes DHS for short-chaning port security
Maritime- and port-related industries criticize DHS for continuing to give a disproportionately large slice of federal security funding to aviation security, while being unreasonably frugal when it comes to port security
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CSC wins $5.9 million deal to digitize immigrant files
Compurers Sciences Corporation will convert A-files in anticipation of a guest worker program; DHS gains the ability to share critical data; CSC shows why it is such a lucrative takeover target
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Bush proposes $4 billion for Joint IED Defeat Organization
Allocation would be a major improvement over previous years; IEDs continue to take a toll, yet technological responses remain problematic; other budget winners include the Future Combat System and BioSense
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NICE Systems selected for D.C. airport surveillance overhaul
Israeli company recently won contracts to protect Beijing Olympics, Eiffel Tower, and New York City public transit; Reagan National Airport gets a makeover; video surveillance market marches on
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India announces coast guard expansion plan
Country will buy fifteen new ships and twenty-three more aircraft, including UAVs; coast guard looks for deep water capabilities capable of assisting with coastal counter-terror missions
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Russian UAV industry lags behind
Country has not a single native model in series production; government buracracy a major hurdle, but so too is a seeming lack of interest from both scientists and generals; government announces its first purchase from a Russian firm
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UPDATE: Israel selects RAFAEL for short-range missile defense
$500 million missile-based system beats out laser- and gun-based approaches; Northrop and Lockheed suffer setbacks; RAFAEL also involved in the Magic Wand long-range defense program
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Northrop and EADS received $559 German UAV contract
EuroHawk GmbH strikes a major deal in the European UAV market after years of effort; German Ministry of Defence impressed with EADS signals intelligence capability; delivery scheduled for 2010
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Bell Helicopters takes a look at an Israeli flying rescue vehicle
Helicopter-like machine relies on fans rather than rotor blades, allowing for greater maneuverability in the urban environment; Urban Aeronautics sees a market for first responders and military; craft can sidle up to a building and evacuate residents out of a window
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L-3 CyTerra receives a $40 million Army mine detection order
Follow-on order comes as part of a larger $300 deal for 17,000 units; 3,000 have already been delivered for use in Iraq and Afghanistan; AN/PSS-14 system marries metal detection to ground-pentrating radar
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U.K. researchers aid MAV development by solving "bumble-bee paradox"
Due to their small size, micro air vehicles struggle to attain sufficient lift; Bath University scientists discover a seventy-year old secret as to how bees manage to get off the ground; flexible insect-like wings might help MAVs realize full potential
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Optosecurity nets $14 million in new funding
Known for its optical threat detection systems, the Canadian company finds new friends in the VC market; Innovatech Quebec continues to have faith in this homegrown company; company prepares for a big 2008
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DoD looks to balloons and UAVs to solve satellite weaknesses
Navy plans a 2009 roll-out for the $7 billion Mobile User Objective System satellite brigade, but DoD lacks funding for the receivers; Global Hawk and Combat Skycat seem promising, but short-term, alternatives
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Bioscrypt selected for Canadian airport I.D.authentication system
Company follows up purchase of A4Vision with a foray northwards; primary contractor Labcal will incorporate Bioscrypt’s fingerprint algorithims into its handheld I.D. readers; twenty-nine airports effected
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The long view
Calls Grow for U.S. to Counter Chinese Control, Influence in Western Ports
Experts say Washington should consider buying back some ports, offer incentives to allies to decouple from China.