Our soldiers could soon get a helping hand in carrying gear thanks to a robotic mule.
DARPA is testing a robotic mule that that will be able to carry 400 pounds of gear on a rough 20 mile trip without being refueled. The robot is called “LS3” and is a four-legged, headless beast of a robot.
DARPA is hoping that the robot will someday be able to follow voice commands and follow troops into the thick of combat.
The YouTube video description details the robot:
To help alleviate the impact of excess weight on troops, DARPA is developing a highly mobile, semi-autonomous four-legged robot, the Legged Squad Support System (LS3). LS3 includes onboard sensors to perceive obstacles in its environment and path-planning capabilities to avoid them. The LS3 platform is designed with the squad in mind and is therefore significantly quieter, faster and has a much higher carrying capacity for longer mission durations than DARPA’s earlier mobility technology demonstrator BigDog.
“If successful, this could provide real value to a squad while addressing the military’s concern for unburdening troops,” said Army Lt. Col. Joe Hitt, program manager DARPA. “LS3 seeks to have the responsiveness of a trained animal and the carrying capacity of a mule.”
The LS3 also acts as a mobile recharging station for troops needing to recharge batteries for radios, tablets or laptops.
An 18-month test period will kick off this summer. If successful, it will deployed with Marines stationed around the world.
To improve the next generation of insect-size flying machines, Johns Hopkins engineers have been aiming high-speed video cameras at some of the prettiest bugs on the planet. By figuring out how butterflies flutter among flowers with amazing grace and agility, the researchers hope to help small airborne robots mimic these maneuvers.
U.S. defense agencies, which have funded this research, are supporting the development of bug-size flyers to carry out reconnaissance, search-and-rescue and environmental monitoring missions without risking human lives. These devices are commonly called micro aerial vehicles or MAVs.
“For military missions in particular, these MAVs must be able to fly successfully through complex urban environments, where there can be tight spaces and turbulent gusts of wind,” said Tiras Lin, a Whiting School of Engineering undergraduate who has been conducting the high-speed video research. “These flying robots will need to be able to turn quickly. But one area in which MAVs are lacking is maneuverability.”
To address that shortcoming, Lin has been studying butterflies. “Flying insects are capable of performing a dazzling variety of flight maneuvers,” he said. “In designing MAVs, we can learn a lot from flying insects.”
On Friday, Anonymous released documents (including 3GB worth of emails) from the law firm that defended marine Sgt. Frank Wuterich. Wuterich is allegedly responsible for leading the charge in the killings of unarmed civilians (including women and children) in Haditha, Iraq in 2005. Wuterich reportedly was not sentenced to any jail time because of a plea deal.
Anonymous also posted the following message to the firm’s site at Puckettfaraj.com (hat tip to Mashable):
The DOD is working on some cool new technology to help with soldiers performing ISR or Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance. These activities require special equipment that can come as a bit of a hassle at times.
DARPA or the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency is working on technology that can be applied to wearable lenses to fit in the eye much like a contact lens. The lenses would contain the technology to display a full color HUD that can then display full color digital images; the tech would be used to help heighten the situational awareness of the user.
In application, the lenses will help soldiers focus on objects both near and far at the same time, improving their ability to use portable displays while keeping aware of the environment in reality.
DARPA is developing the technology as part of a SCENICC program A.K.A Soldier Centric Imaging via Computational Computers. The programs is meant to intagrate ranges of technology including video processing, immersive displays, optical sensing and advanced imaging. This would eliminate the ISR “capibility gap” that stands with the individual soldier.
Currently, according to one source, the ISR activities are haltered due to equipment such as such as binoculars, night vision goggles and other related ISR equipment. These tools put the soldier in a limited performance mode thus putting him/her as a “soldier down”.
according to a broad agency announcement about SCENICC on FedBizOpps.gov:
“The current gap in soldier-centric situational awareness results from the predominantly airborne, video-based, downward-looking, operational concept employed by nearly all ISR systems producing critical limitations to resolution, field-of-view (FOV), waveband coverage, persistence, and access to actionable information at the soldier scale.”
With the eye lens tech, the benefit would be, that the soldier using, would operate and perform his/her ISR duties hands free. The technology can provide similar or even better magnification on the demand of the user. DARPA says ultimately the technology would cost less than than the standard ISR equipment currently given.
The military has been interested in VR technology for soldiers in the field for some time now. They feel it would not only improve ISR duties, but improve soldier training as well.
K-Team Robotics has done some amazing stuff with nano quadrotor flying vehicles. This video shows the progress they have made in coordinating and controlling these small machines. The quadrotors move like a swarm, flying in formation, including three-dimensional formations and object avoidance.
Could this be the future of the US Air Force? What if spy drones were this big? What if tools like this were used to deliver small-payload materials behind enemy lines?
It was only a matter of time before somebody made a self-guided bullet and that time is now.
Two researchers at Sandia National Laboratories, Red Jones and Brian Kast, have invented a “dart-like, self-guided bullet for small-caliber, smooth-bore firearms” that have the ability to hit laser-designated targets from over a mile away.
“We have a very promising technology to guide small projectiles that could be fully developed inexpensively and rapidly,” Jones said.
The research lab is currently seeking a private company partner to complete testing and bring the guided bullet to the marketplace.
The researchers have found initial success testing the bullet in computer simulations and prototypes built with commercially available parts.
The design of the four-inch-long bullet is equipped with an optical sensor in the nose to detect a laser beam on a potential target. The sensor sends collected information to an 8-bit processor that uses an algorithm to steer tiny fins that guide the bullet to the target.
The researchers claim that the bullet flies straight due to its aerodynamic design. The bullet has a center of gravity that sits forward with tiny fins that enable it to fly without spin.
Computer simulations showed a normal bullet missing a target from more than a half-mile away by more than 9.8 yards. The guided bullet could get within 8 inches according to the simulations.
The inherent advantage over guided missiles is that the bullet can be over-steered and still hit its target. A guided missile must be controlled through very precise means. The person firing the guided bullet can make trajectory corrections 30 times per second.
The bullet can currently reach speeds of 2,400 feet per second using commercially available gunpowder. The team feels that they can match standard military speeds with custom gunpowder.
The researchers filmed the bullet equipped with an LED and fired it at night to test its ability to move throughout the air after being fired. They found that the bullet became easier to control the longer it stayed airborne. This greatly increased accuracy over long distances and allows the bullet to perform trick flying as seen in the lead image.
Potential customers for the bullet unsurprisingly include the military, law enforcement and recreational shooters.
Remind me never to join the People’s Liberation Army of China.
Footage revealed last weekend on YouTube shows a training exercise from the PLA where soldiers pass around a live grenade to have it thrown into a hole. The soldiers then leap out of the way before it explodes. It’s a dangerous game of hot potato that I have no interest in.
The video description outlines the training exercise in more detail by saying that each soldier must take the live explosive by both hands, then hand it off to the next soldier while visibly twisting their torso. The last soldier then has to throw it into the hole and make sure it lands inside correctly.
The video description goes on to say, “As with militaries across the world, the PLA instill their soldiers with specialised skills and advanced training.” Let me know if I’m wrong, but I’m pretty sure no other military in the world has their soldiers playing hot potato with a live grenade as “training.”
I don’t think I need to add the disclaimer, “Don’t try this at home,” but seriously, please don’t try this at home.
Today, as you probably already know, is Veterans Day in the United States. Formerly known as Armistice Day (and still known as that in other countries), Veterans day is a federal holiday that is celebrated every year on November 11th in honor of our military veterans.
As long at the November 11th falls on a weekday, that’s when it is celebrated. That’s due to the significance of the number “11” when it comes to WWI. The armistice that formally ended major hostilities was signed on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month. So this year, at least numerically, is a pretty special Veterans Day. The fact that it’s 2011 makes this Veterans day a real 11/11/11 celebration.
But of course, it’s not about numbers – it’s about the near 25 million U.S. military veterans (and active service members) that work hard every day to promote the well being of the country.
Google’s Veterans Day Doodle is a simple representation of hope, memory, and vigilance. In the logo, Google is written in the clouds, except for the “L.” That is represented by a tree, bearing the yellow ribbon – a symbol that has become synonymous with remembering our military men and women.
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has released this video to honor the holiday. But they also want to reach out and convey the message that Veterans Day is not just about celebrating our troops on one day a year. It’s about showing gratitude year-round.
The President will honor Veterans Day with a breakfast at the White House and a laying of a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknowns.
And Veterans Day will also be celebrated in a unique way today – with a little college basketball. Michigan State will play North Carolina will play the first ever game on an Naval aircraft carrier in front of 7,000 people this afternoon. The game will be played on the USS Carl Vinson, the same ship that carried Osama bin Laden to his sea burial.
Frontline on PBS is airing a program tonight called WikiSecrets, which explores the events surrounding the WikiLeaks publishing of over half a million classified documents, in what is commonly known as the largest intelligence breach in U.S. history. Ahead of the program, Frontine has posted an edited, yet substantial version of Bradley Manning’s Facebook Wall. Manning, if of course the Army intelligence analyst who has been charged with leaking the documents.
The Wall is a pretty interesting read.
FRONTLINEExclusive: FRONTLINE uncovers video of alleged Wikileaker Bradley Manning mingling with hackers around the time of the war logs leak. Watch “WikiSecrets” tomorrow at 9pm ET on @PBS.20 hours ago · 83 likes · 22 comments
The postings start on July 22, when he says, “Just created a new facebook.” The early posts are your pretty much your basic, mundane status updates. Things like: “playing EVE online,” “working at Starbucks,” “taking a nap,” “sleeping,” “at home,” “working at Abercrobmie & Fitch,” “ready to scream!,” travelling to Chicago for Lollapalooza,” etc.
Finally, on November 5, his first mention of the military makes its appearance: “is still in the Army, but suspended with injuries from Basic Training.” Shortly after that, came:
“Sorry about not being in contact with anyone. Anyway, I got pulled from my Basic Training at Ford Leonard Wood. I’m not sure what my status in the Army is right now, but I’m currently being treated by the hospital’s neurology departmentt for some kind of nerve injury causing my left arm to go weak and almost completely numb.
Also, i’m suffering from dropfoot, meaning my left foot is numb, and unable to walk correctly without a limp.
Anyway, I’m hanging in here, and as far as I know I’m not yet going to be discharged from the Army, and may be recycled for training by January!
Peace out everyone
On April 4, He posted, “hey, i finally graduated basic training everybuddiez…i’ve now moved on to Fort Huachuca in AZ. Hit me up on thephonezors if you can!”. Frontline says this is when he’s sent to receive intelligence training, which when completed, gave him security clearance that gave him access to top-secret databases. They point to a Wired article, indicating Manning was reprimanded for revealing sensitive info on YouTube while he was at Fort Huachuca.
On June 28, Manning posted the following Bob Barr presidential campaign video:
Late in 2008, after completing intelligence training and getting into fights and getting reprimanded again (for throwing chairs and yelling at soldiers), he posted various Prop 8 protest material and continued throughout 2009 to discuss political issues and gay rights fairly frequently.
On October 23, 2009, he wrote, “is getting a little tired of pinging major ISPs at 750 m/sec. Hopefully Iraq qill have faster Internet.” He had previously posted that he was in Kuwait. On October 29, he arrived In Iraq. On October 31, he wrote, “is in his new room. with his high speed Internet”.
On November 4: “feels betrayed…again.” On November 24, he posted photos from the “official promotion ceremony from Private First Class to Specialist”. “it’s no biggie,” he commented. “when i get sergeant it will be a much bigger deal.”
January 13 2010: “feels so alone.”
On January 21, Manning headed back to the U.S. for a couple weeks, at which time he attened the BUILDS event, where he is believed to have given up the infamous war logs.
The postings go on up until June 5. Frontline does an excellent job of adding a timeline alongside the postings, highlighting relevant events . The whole wall (though edited) can be viewed here.
The page will be explored in the film WikiSecrets, airing tonight on PBS.
Google said today it is offering a free $10 calling credit during the holidays to military families in an effort to help them keep in touch with their loved ones serving abroad.
The Gmail Blog offers more details. “These international call credits can be used to make calls with Google Voice or from right inside Gmail, and will provide families with roughly 30 minutes of call time to Afghanistan, 60 minutes to Iraq, or hundreds of minutes to many countries in Europe and around the world.”
To make the free calling credit possible, Google partnered with Blue Star Families and Sesame Street Family Connections, two organizations focused on supporting service members and their families.
To be eligible for $10 calling credits, military family members must:
1. Be a member of either Blue Star Families or Sesame Street Family Connections — registration is free for all military families
2. Provide their Gmail address
3. Enable calling in Gmail and accept the terms of service OR have an existing Google Voice account
4. Complete this registration form by December 22, 2010
How much information is too much for a soldier in the United States Army to divulge through blogging and social media? Anything that puts other soldiers’ lives at risk. According to the Army’s Chief of Strategic Communications, Lt. Col. André Dean, that’s about it.
WebProNews recently sat down with Dean to talk about the social media use of soldiers. “We have since 2007…jumped into social media with determination to be here and stay here, and it’s just taken off like gangbusters since,” says Dean. “We’re just trying to find out where the Marines are. Where are those Marines?”
“Restrictions are almost non-existent,” he explains. “Like any blogging community, you establish some rules of slander or libel or just basic good conduct on the Internet. That’s all that we have with the exception being United States Military in time of war, what we call “operational security,” which means if a soldier talks about a mission that’s upcoming, the enemy is listening always to what we say and do, and if a soldier talks about something that could cost a soldier his or her life, that is operational security violation.”
“But soldiers are trained to do that,” he continues. “They’re trained to do that continuously. So we just have them be reminded of…and they’re getting an operational security briefing before they start to blog, and we ask them to honor and respect that, and that’s really the only unusual piece, because of the nature of what we do. We have to put something in place, and soldiers…I mean, nobody argues that piece, because that’s their life protected. The whole community has to rally around and understand that piece, and they do immediately. I mean that’s how we watch each others’ back…by good operational security procedures.”
“So, we stress that as a part of blogging, and we say ‘Cut loose. Fire. Go. Tell the Army story.’ And these great young soldiers do.” (more…)
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