Archive | Technology | Armed with Science

Eyes On The Skies – Space Weather and Satellites

Filed under Space, Technology by jtozer on May 16, 2012 at 7:09 am {no comments}

This animation shows a magnetic reconnection event with proton aurora data from the IMAGE spacecraft. (Photo concept courtesy of NASA)

The Space Surveillance Network has been tracking space objects since 1957 when the Soviets opened the space age with the launch of Sputnik I. Since then, the SSN has tracked more than 24,500 space objects orbiting Earth.

Of that number, the SSN currently tracks more than 8,000 orbiting objects.

The rest have re-entered Earth’s turbulent atmosphere and disintegrated, or survived re-enty and impacted the Earth. The space objects now orbiting Earth range from satellites weighting several tons to pieces of spent rocket bodies weighing only 10 pounds.

About seven percent of the space objects are operational satellites, the rest are debris. USSPACECOM is primarily interested in the active satellites, but also tracks space debris. The SSN tracks space objects which are 10 centimeters in diameter (baseball size) or larger.

SSN Sensors

The SSN uses a “predictive” technique to monitor space objects; it spot checks them rather than tracking them continually. This technique is used because of the limits of the SSN (number of sensors, geographic distribution, capability, and availability).

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Laser Weapons for Navy Ships

Filed under Physical Sciences, Technology, Videos by jtozer on May 14, 2012 at 7:50 am {no comments}

We are getting closer and closer to the laser beam, I can feel it. A military scientist operates a laser in a test environment. The United states Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) Directed Energy Directorate conducts research on a variety of solid-state and chemical lasers. (U.S. Air Force)

I’ve been waiting for this day for a long time.

The Navy…is getting LASER WEAPONS.

Eventually.

Okay, so it’s not right this second, but ONR is working to make it a reality. To help sailors defeat small boat threats and aerial targets without using bullets, the Office of Naval Research (ONR) wants to develop a solid-state laser weapon prototype that will demonstrate multi-mission capabilities aboard a Navy ship.

“We believe it’s time to move forward with solid-state lasers and shift the focus from limited demonstrations to weapon prototype development and related technology advancement,” said Peter Morrison, program officer of the Solid-State Laser Technology Maturation (SSL-TM) program.

ONR will host an industry day May 16 to provide the research and development community with information about the program. A Broad Agency Announcement is expected to be released thereafter to solicit proposals and bids.

The Navy’s long history of advancing directed-energy technology has yielded kilowatt-scale lasers capable of being employed as weapons. Among the programs, the Maritime Laser Demonstration developed a proof-of-concept technology that was tested at sea aboard a decommissioned Navy ship.

The demonstrator was able to disable a small boat target: (more…)

Walking Tall – How New Prosthetics Are Changing The Game

Filed under Technology, Videos by jtozer on May 9, 2012 at 7:24 am {no comments}

According to the Department of Defense, 1,453 service members have lost limbs since the start of the wars in 2001. Of those, 82% were lower extremity injuries. In spite of this, some wounded warriors are not letting their lack of limbs slow down their stride…literally.

Thanks to some advancements in technology, some of these injured troops have returned to active duty. A few of them even went back to the war. How’s that possible? Injured troops at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center are trying out a new type of computerized prosthetic that’s helping them to walk tall in more ways than one.

The Pentagon Channel explains:

Developing More Lifelike Artificial Limbs

VA researchers constantly strive to improve the construction of prostheses, using leading edge technologies such as robotics, tissue engineering, and nanotechnology to create lighter limbs that closely mimic their natural counterparts. The integration of body, mind, and machine is a major guiding principle as VA specialists design and build artificial limbs that look, feel, and respond like natural arms and legs.

For more information about the VA and prosthetics, click here

Mobile App Helps Troops Adjust to Life After Combat

Filed under Technology by jtozer on May 8, 2012 at 7:35 am {no comments}

The Department of Defense today announced the release of a mobile application to help service members adjust to life at home after returning from combat deployments.

Positive Activity Jackpot, developed by the National Center for Telehealth and Technology, uses augmented reality with a smart phone’s GPS to help find nearby activities and diversions for someone used to the high tempo of combat life.

The center, known as T2, used a behavioral therapy called pleasant event scheduling as the basis for design of the application. The therapy encourages a daily schedule of enjoyable activities to improve moods and overcome depression.

“After returning from a combat deployment, service members who are used to a more structured daily schedule may have difficulty adjusting to life at home,” said Dr. Amanda Edwards Stewart, psychologist who led the development of Positive Activity Jackpot. “This can lead to difficulties with relationships, depression and other problems. “

The application, available for Android systems, has an extensive list of pre-programmed activities.

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Better Than GPS – Going Where No Electronic Map Has Gone Before

Filed under Life Sciences, Technology by jtozer on May 7, 2012 at 7:12 am {no comments}

Keep right at the fork. Take the first exit at the roundabout. Recalculating. Destination on the left.

Ultimate cosmic directional power, yet the parking garage sends you into retreat. Sigh. (Artist Interpretation of GPS satellite; image courtesy of NASA)

Admit it, you read those words in the voice of your handy GPS. Mine’s named Stella. She enjoys making abrupt decisions with wild abandon and no regard for my personal safety. Yet I totally rely on her, so I allow her to treat me this way. That’s a sign of the times. We’ve abandoned maps in lieu of little devices that give us step-by-step instructions, leading us to our destination.

Even if that means you end up taking knee-jerk driving commands that make you look like you’re operating a car full of bees.

Still, as cruel as Stella is to me, I still rely on her for many things, so when she decides to give me the cold shoulder – for example, we go through a tunnel and she loses direction – it sends me spiraling into a directionless panic.

So, since knowing where you are going is sort of an important thing for service members, what are the troops down range doing when they go through a tunnel?

When the maps aren’t enough and the GPS is recalculating, who you gonna call? The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency!

There’s a theme song in there, I just know it.

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Robot SHARKS

Filed under Robots, Technology by jtozer on May 2, 2012 at 7:34 am {no comments}

Video provided by the National Science Foundation Edited by Jessica L. Tozer

Sharks with lasers on their heads!

Okay, not really, but I still don’t think Dr. Evil would be too disappointed. Robot sharks are still pretty awesome. And thanks to new research, not far from reality.

Dive in with NSF funded researcher John Long and his robotic sharks. A professor at Vassar College, Dr. Long and his team study real live sharks and their vertebral columns. They then takes these findings and design computer models and artificial vertebral columns to understand sharks’ movement and biomechanics.

Maybe lasers can be an additional feature…

From Science 360

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Disclaimer: The appearance of hyperlinks does not constitute endorsement by the Department of Defense of this website or the information, products or services contained therein. For other than authorized activities such as military exchanges and Morale, Welfare and Recreation sites, the Department of Defense does not exercise any editorial control over the information you may find at these locations. Such links are provided consistent with the stated purpose of this DoD website.

Lethal Technology

Filed under Technology by jtozer on May 1, 2012 at 7:36 am {no comments}

Engineer Chris Haines holds a cylinder composed of reactive materials.

Imagine a warhead with fragments that flare and burn when the warhead detonates.

Now imagine the potential destruction of an artillery shell made almost entirely of that stuff.

Such a theoretical weapon is one of the goals behind the research being conducted by Picatinny Arsenal engineers working at the Advanced Materials Lab.

In conventional artillery shells, the explosive force generated upon detonation causes the warhead to break apart. The resulting fragments flung out in all directions are great speed explains how these weapons cause their damage.

But the potential destructive force is increased dramatically with capabilities of reactive materials that can be formed and strengthened to replace the inert materials that make up the rest of the warhead.

The reactive materials form the structure of the warhead rather than simply being loaded into the warhead.

“Structured reactive materials, or SRM, will enhance the lethality of current and future weapons while maintaining or reducing the payload,” said Paul Redner, a materials engineer with the Advanced Materials Lab.

“Unlike with more traditional (reactive materials), SRM will be a direct one-to-one replacement of inert components.”

The engineers have already made progress in the research, yet challenges remain.

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The Newest Thing in Navy Warships

Filed under Featured, Technology by jtozer on April 26, 2012 at 7:43 am {no comments}

By Jessica L. Tozer

This is not your father’s Navy warship.

Well it’s not my father’s either – since he’s never owned one – but you get my point.

Check out the new digs on the Navy‘s wave of the future. Isn’t she a beauty? I’d like to introduce you to (the rendered conception of) the DDG 1002 Zumwalt Class Warship. It’s the latest thing in intimidating, high tech maritime awesomeness.

Concept for the DDG 1000 Zumwalt Class Destroyers, courtesy of Bath Iron Works

Or it will be, once construction is completed.

The Zumwalt, taking shape at Bath Iron Works, is the biggest destroyer ever built for the U.S. Navy. DDG 1000 is the first of a new class of warships in the US Navy’s revolutionary vision for 21st Century surface combatant designs. What does that mean?

So glad you asked…

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