REMIXX WORLD!: Technology

Showing posts with label Technology. Show all posts

Thursday, August 16, 2012

FLASHBACK: DARPA to Develop Humanoid Robot Systems (2012)

Another day. Another DARPA. Another DARPA story that is. This time the story is about DARPA's plan to develop humanoid robots to help with disaster relief.

The Department of Defense’s strategic plan calls for the Joint Force to conduct humanitarian, disaster relief and related operations. The plan identifies requirements to extend aid to victims of natural or man-made disasters and conduct evacuation operations. Some disasters, however, due to grave risks to the health and wellbeing of rescue and aid workers, prove too great in scale or scope for timely and effective human response. The DARPA Robotics Challenge (DRC) will attempt to address this capability gap by promoting innovation in robotic technology for disaster-response operations.

I remember this part of the Animatrix movie (click the link above to watch that movie). I believe it was in The Second Renaissance Part I when the humans decided to build humanoid robots to do its work. If a movie can be any guide to real life, then we know what will ultimately happen once these DARPA-bots are operational. They will fight humanity to the death!

The initial solicitation is outdated, but the DARPA Robotics Challenge (DRC) webpage has updated information and it says the program is set to launch in October, 2012.

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Solicitation Number:
DARPA-SN-12-35
Notice Type:
Special Notice
Synopsis:
Added: Apr 12, 2012 8:47 pm

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, Tactical Technology Office (TTO), intends to award a sole source contract to Boston Dynamics Inc. (BDI), of Waltham, Mass. For the contract, BDI will develop and build a set of humanoid robot systems for use by performers in both phases of the DARPA Robotics Challenge program. This effort will develop approximately 8 identical platforms consisting of two legs, torso, on board computing, two arms with hands, and a sensor head. BDI will deliver these robots to DARPA so they can be provided to the top software development teams based on the results of the Virtual Disaster Challenge. Boston Dynamics will also provide in the field support and as required maintenance to the delivered systems.

The U.S. Army under its Protection Ensemble Test Mannequin (PETMAN) program developed, with Boston Dynamics, a humanoid robot with advanced range of motion and strength. This effort was then the basis of work done by BDI under the DARPA DSO M3 program on a platform named Atlas to increase its mobility. These two efforts have combined to develop a one of a kind humanoid robot with state of the art capability. DARPA has been a lead researcher in ground robotics over the last few decades. In addition it has tracked developments in this area outside the agency. Of the few existing humanoid robots, BDI was deemed to be the sole viable supplier for providing the necessary robotic platform capability within the specified timeframe.

The proposed contract action is for supplies or services for which the Government intends to solicit and negotiate with only one source under authority of FAR 6.302-1 "Only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements." As the legged robot leader, Boston Dynamics Inc. possesses unique knowledge and capabilities required to carry out the required research effort. No other source would be capable of satisfying the requirements for an affordable end-to-end solution necessary to meet the Government's needs.

This notice of intent is not a request for competitive proposals and no solicitation is currently available. However, interested parties may identify their interest and capability to respond to the requirement. Responses received within forty-five (45) days after date of publication of this notice will be considered by the Government. Information received will be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement. A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed effort on a full and open basis is solely within the discretion of the Government. Interested parties may identify their interest and capability to meet the requirements by submitting a white paper and past performance data by no later than 28 May 2012 to The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, Attn: Mr. Christopher Glista, Contracts Management Office (CMO), 3701 North Fairfax Drive, Arlington, VA 22203-1714 or via email to christopher.glista@darpa.mil. Questions shall be submitted to the above email address.

Contracting Office Address:
3701 North Fairfax Drive
Arlington, Virginia 22203-1714
Primary Point of Contact.:
Chris Glista
christopher.glista@darpa.mil

Saturday, January 21, 2012

DARPA Creates Time Cloak That Can Mask Events by Distorting Light

I am always intrigued by DARPA, because it is the government's "mad scientist" wing that comes up with all types of crazy inventions. The latest one is a "time-cloak" which can mask an entire event. This differs from an invisibility cloak which will causes an object to disappear from optical view, but is still detectable by other methods. The time-cloak causes the entire event to simply disappear from detection. Although it is currently only available on a small scale, if the Pentagon ever perfects the technology, it will be able to create the ultimate secret spy.

In movie magic, people and objects can appear or disappear or move from place to place in an instant. Just stop the camera, move things around and start it again. Now, Cornell researchers have demonstrated a similar "temporal cloak" -- albeit on a very small scale -- in the transport of information by a beam of light.

Source: Cornell Chronicle

Tuesday, January 03, 2012

FLASHBACK: U.S. Government Allegedly Spies on Protesters with Insect-Sized Spy Drones (2007)

I have read about these "insect" drones in the past being used to spy on protesters, but aside from a U.S. Air Force post some time back I have not written much about them. I don't know why I decided to finally blog about it tonight, but if the government had these types of drones in 2007, I wonder what it has five (5) years later. Check out what some people in the crowd had to say about these drones.

Vanessa Alarcon saw them while working at an antiwar rally in Lafayette Square last month...

...I look up and I'm like, 'What the hell is that?' They looked kind of like dragonflies or little helicopters. But I mean, those are not insects."

Out in the crowd, Bernard Crane saw them, too.

"I'd never seen anything like it in my life," the Washington lawyer said. "They were large for dragonflies. I thought, 'Is that mechanical, or is that alive?' "

Source: Washington Post

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Scientists Demonstrate Decoded Neurofeedback Method of Potentially Downloading New Skills Into Human Brains Like The Matrix

We all knew that it was just a matter of time before some scientists began developing Matrix-like cerebral technology. Please don't sleep, and think that Matrix-like technology is limited to the movie screen. If a novel technology is depicted in a movie, then that technology either already exists or it will soon be developed by some agency like DARPA.

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Press Release 11-257

Vision Scientists Demonstrate Innovative Learning Method

New research suggests it may be possible to learn high-performance tasks with little or no conscious effort

December 8, 2011
View a video showing researchers explaining Decoded Neurofeedback.

New research published today in the journal Science suggests it may be possible to use brain technology to learn to play a piano, reduce mental stress or hit a curve ball with little or no conscious effort. It's the kind of thing seen in Hollywood's "Matrix" franchise.

Experiments conducted at Boston University (BU) and ATR Computational Neuroscience Laboratories in Kyoto, Japan, recently demonstrated that through a person's visual cortex, researchers could use decoded functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to induce brain activity patterns to match a previously known target state and thereby improve performance on visual tasks.

Think of a person watching a computer screen and having his or her brain patterns modified to match those of a high-performing athlete or modified to recuperate from an accident or disease. Though preliminary, researchers say such possibilities may exist in the future.

"Adult early visual areas are sufficiently plastic to cause visual perceptual learning," said lead author and BU neuroscientist Takeo Watanabe of the part of the brain analyzed in the study.

Neuroscientists have found that pictures gradually build up inside a person's brain, appearing first as lines, edges, shapes, colors and motion in early visual areas. The brain then fills in greater detail to make a red ball appear as a red ball, for example.

Researchers studied the early visual areas for their ability to cause improvements in visual performance and learning.

"Some previous research confirmed a correlation between improving visual performance and changes in early visual areas, while other researchers found correlations in higher visual and decision areas," said Watanabe, director of BU's Visual Science Laboratory. "However, none of these studies directly addressed the question of whether early visual areas are sufficiently plastic to cause visual perceptual learning." Until now.

Boston University post-doctoral fellow Kazuhisa Shibata designed and implemented a method using decoded fMRI neurofeedback to induce a particular activation pattern in targeted early visual areas that corresponded to a pattern evoked by a specific visual feature in a brain region of interest. The researchers then tested whether repetitions of the activation pattern caused visual performance improvement on that visual feature.

The result, say researchers, is a novel learning approach sufficient to cause long-lasting improvement in tasks that require visual performance.

What's more, the approached worked even when test subjects were not aware of what they were learning.

"The most surprising thing in this study is that mere inductions of neural activation patterns corresponding to a specific visual feature led to visual performance improvement on the visual feature, without presenting the feature or subjects' awareness of what was to be learned," said Watanabe, who developed the idea for the research project along with Mitsuo Kawato, director of ATR lab and Yuka Sasaki, an assistant in neuroscience at Massachusetts General Hospital.

"We found that subjects were not aware of what was to be learned while behavioral data obtained before and after the neurofeedback training showed that subjects' visual performance improved specifically for the target orientation, which was used in the neurofeedback training," he said.

The finding brings up an inevitable question. Is hypnosis or a type of automated learning a potential outcome of the research?

"In theory, hypnosis or a type of automated learning is a potential outcome," said Kawato. "However, in this study we confirmed the validity of our method only in visual perceptual learning. So we have to test if the method works in other types of learning in the future. At the same time, we have to be careful so that this method is not used in an unethical way."

At present, the decoded neurofeedback method might be used for various types of learning, including memory, motor and rehabilitation.

The National Science Foundation, the National Institutes of Health and the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology in Japan supported the research.

-NSF-

Media Contacts
Bobbie Mixon, NSF (703) 292-8485 bmixon@nsf.gov

Program Contacts
Lynne Bernstein, NSF (703) 292-8643 lbernste@nsf.gov

Principal Investigators
Takeo Watanabe, Boston University (617) 353-1103 takeo@bu.edu
Mitsuo Kawato, ATR Computational Neuroscience Laboratories kawato@atr.jp

The National Science Foundation (NSF) is an independent federal agency that supports fundamental research and education across all fields of science and engineering. In fiscal year (FY) 2011, its budget is about $6.9 billion. NSF funds reach all 50 states through grants to nearly 2,000 universities and institutions. Each year, NSF receives over 45,000 competitive requests for funding, and makes over 11,500 new funding awards. NSF also awards over $400 million in professional and service contracts yearly.

Get/Receive News Updates by Email

Useful NSF Web Sites:
NSF Home Page: http://www.nsf.gov
NSF News: http://www.nsf.gov/news/
For the News Media: http://www.nsf.gov/news/newsroom.jsp
Science and Engineering Statistics: http://www.nsf.gov/statistics/
Awards Searches: http://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/

Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Lancaster, California Approves Aerial Surveillance System to Provide Sheriff’s Station with Crime-Fighting Tool

File photo

My initial thought on this Lancaster program is privacy. It seems like this is nothing, but big brother in the sky. According to the undated Acquisition and Management Agreement between the City of Lancaster and Aero View, LLC, once this program goes operational, this aerial program will track, trace and database for an average of ten (10) hours per day, 365 days per year! The press release below addresses the privacy concerns. I still don't know if that is sufficient for me, but the powers-that-be are certainly aware of the privacy issues with this program.

301. Law Enforcement Surveillance Program. Commencing on the Operation Date Aero View shall provide an average of 10 hours of aerial surveillance daily every day of the year at times to the determined by LASD or approximately 303 hours per month. Aero View, the City and LASD shall enter into one or more memorandum of understanding setting forth the operation details and protocols to be followed in connection with the implementation of the Law Enforcement Surveillance Program. Such memorandum shall provide at a minimum that (i) the surveillance equipment installed on the Aircraft will deliver quality imaging via an encrypted communications link to equipment at the LASD Lancaster Station; (ii) the imagery, the media receiving the imagery and the storage and playback equipment will be physically retained and controlled by LASD only; (iii) the City and Aero View will not have access to the imagery provided by the System except as determined by the LASD in furtherance of the law enforcement purposes or quality control; and (iv) all surveillance operations will be controlled by LASD personnel by commanding the surveillance mode and/or objects to be targeted.

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City of Lancaster To Team Up with Local Aerospace Firm to Provide the Lancaster Sheriff’s Station with Crime-Fighting Tool Above All Others

Posted Date: 11/4/2011 11:00 AM

The City of Lancaster and Lancaster-based Aero View LLC today formally announced that the Lancaster City Council will consider adding an aerial law enforcement surveillance system to the City’s arsenal of crime-fighting tools. Employee- and veteran-owned Aero View LLC has created a Law Enforcement Aerial Platform System (LEAPS) which will help law enforcement agencies become more effective at keeping neighborhoods safe. The matter will go before the City Council at Tuesday’s City Council meeting, and is considered one of the most significant proposals affecting Lancaster’s ongoing war on crime.

“Public safety has always been priority number one for this Council,” said Mayor R. Rex Parris. “We have worked closely with the Sheriff’s Department over the past four years to ensure we do everything to stomp out crime. Now, the Sheriff’s Department will have an aerial advantage to add to their arsenal.”

Recently, the City of Lancaster announced a 16% drop in its 2011 crime rate to date, in comparison to the same period last year. By the end of 2011, the City is on target to achieve a 40% reduction in crime since 2007. City and Sheriff’s Department officials are looking forward to utilizing the new aerial system to take their crime-fighting efforts to a higher level.

Mayor Parris has been steadfast in pursuing affordable aerial surveillance technology for law enforcement in Lancaster. He has an unwavering belief that this will not only continue to reduce crime in Lancaster, but also provide law enforcement agencies nationwide with a model and tool which will benefit their public safety efforts; not just through more effective operations after a crime has occurred, but as a deterrent to committing crimes in the first place.

Lancaster Sheriff’s Station Captain Bob Jonsen says the capabilities of LEAPS will enable law enforcement teams to be even more effective in fighting crime in Lancaster.

“From a public safety perspective, LEAPS can follow a criminal target via visual movement at altitudes ranging from 1,000 to 3,000 feet above ground level, while using both visible and infrared images for tracking,” said Jonsen. “It is an effective and economical resource offering superior surveillance, patrol and investigative capabilities.”

LEAPS is also unique in that it is the first aircraft system of its kind offered at such an economical value, while ensuring citizen privacy. The system follows existing law enforcement and citizen privacy protocol, as already established by the Sheriff’s Department. Additionally, the Sheriff’s Department will have complete control over the data, surveillance and operation of the Law Enforcement Aerial Platform System, and only assigned LASD personnel will be privy to the information and video transmitted from the aircraft. The imagery recorded by the system will be encrypted and fed directly to the Sheriff’s station, not being viewed or retained at any point by the aircraft, the pilot, or the City. This ensures that citizen privacy rights are protected and upheld to the same letter of the law which currently exists.

Another benefit of LEAPS is that it allows the Sheriff’s Department to quickly access up to two years of video data. If a crime goes unreported, then is later discovered, case-relevant activity footage may have been transmitted by LEAPS, thus providing evidentiary data for the Sheriff’s Department.

The Law Enforcement Aerial Platform System, was created by Aero View LLC, and engineered and developed by Spiral Technology, Inc., another veteran-owned small business aerospace firm operating in the City of Lancaster for more than 15 years. By coupling a widely built U.S. aircraft, the Cessna 172, with relatively affordable optical equipment, Aero View is able to employ the software and engineering know-how of Spiral’s engineers to produce this uniquely effective and affordable system.

“When we met with the City and Sheriff’s Department, we wanted to come away with a thorough understanding of the needs in this community, and find a way to meet them within pre-defined budget constraints,” said Aero View LLC President Steve Mc Carter. “We have successfully accomplished this with LEAPS.”

The Law Enforcement Aerial Platform System is a low maintenance, fuel-efficient, low noise product which will be fueled, maintained, and hangared at Fox Field in Lancaster. The value of the system components, including the plane and optical equipment, is estimated at $1.3 Million, and will become City assets.

No operational funding will be required in Fiscal Year 2011-2012, as the first 12 months of service and operations of LEAPS are at no cost to the City as part of the Acquisition and Management Agreement between the City of Lancaster and Aero View LLC, which will be considered by the City Council.

Mayor Parris and the City have pursued development of this system since 2008. After two previous attempts to launch a successful program with other partners, the proposed partnership between Lancaster and Aero View LLC is leagues above other pursuits and stands to realize as significant an impact on economic development as it will have on public safety.

“With Aero View LLC and Spiral Technology, Inc. being headquartered here in Lancaster, the Antelope Valley will reap the benefits of both significant economic activity and jobs,” stated Mayor Parris. “This is exactly the type of boost we need to our local economy.”

The City of Lancaster’s contractual arrangement with Aero View LLC commits future business development, design, acquisition, manufacture, assembly, sales and service operations to occur in Lancaster for a period of 10 years from the date of execution of the Agreement. With such an innovative, cost-effective system being offered to cities and counties always searching for new affordable ways to combat and prevent crime, the demand for LEAPS is projected to be high.

“For a while now, we have been pursuing development and deployment of an effective, robust and affordable aerial surveillance system for use by our Lancaster Sheriff’s Station,” said Mayor Parris. “Now, thanks to Aero View, our Sheriff’s Department will have access to a system which enables them to be more proactive and responsive to law enforcement needs throughout our entire City.”

Upon approval from the Lancaster City Council, implementation of the City of Lancaster/Aero View LLC agreement will begin, and the first LEAPS model will be developed and deployed in Lancaster in early Spring of 2012.

Friday, November 11, 2011

Cyberdyne's Robot Suit HAL That Augments Human Capability & Strength

What in the name of John Connor is going on over in Japan? Robot suits? Made by a company called Cyberdyne. This is beyond creepy, yo!

Tuesday, October 18, 2011

U.S. Army Awards $4.9M Contract to AeroVironment to Create "Kamikaze" Drones (a/k/a Switchblade Agile Munition Systems)

It seems like there are more unmanned drones being developed than manned aircraft these days. However, I should not be surprised, because one of this blog's most popular articles of all-time was United States Air Force Unmanned Aircraft Systems Flight Plan 2009-2047 (May 18, 2009) (Unclassified). That article defined the Air Force's plan for an unmanned aircraft fleet over the next forty (40) or so years. I would not be surprised if the other military branches did not have similar types of plans.

These drones produced by AeroVironment for the U.S. Army will have "kamikaze" capabilities - meaning that the unmanned drone itself will be the bomb. This reminds of me an episode of the Transformers cartoon from 1986 with the Lipoles. The Lipoles were basically bat-like drone Transformers that could transform into kamikaze bombs (click the picture to watch the episode where the Lipoles appear).

The tube-launched Switchblade drone, made by Monrovia, California-based Aerovironment Inc., was secretly sent to Afghanistan for the first time last year. “Under a dozen” were fired, said Army Deputy Product Director William Nichols.

Source: Bloomberg

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U.S. Army Awards AeroVironment $4.9 Million Contract for Switchblade Agile Munition Systems and Services

September 01 2011

MONROVIA, Calif., Sept. 1, 2011 -- AeroVironment, Inc. (NASDAQ: AVAV) announced that it received a contract on June 29 from the U.S. Army Close Combat Weapons Systems (CCWS), Program Executive Office Missiles and Space (PEO MS). The $4,907,840 contract for the Switchblade agile munition includes engineering services and operational systems for deployment with the U.S. Army.

This award represents the culmination of years of development, testing, demonstrations and customer evaluations. The prototype Switchblade system previously received Safety Confirmation and underwent Military Utility Assessment with the U.S. Army in the fall of 2010. The award is for rapid fielding of this capability to deployed combat forces.

The Switchblade air vehicle launches from a small tube that can be carried in a backpack and transmits live color video wirelessly for display on AeroVironment’s standard small unmanned aircraft system (UAS) ground control unit. Upon confirming the target using the live video feed, the operator then sends a command to the air vehicle to arm it and lock its trajectory onto the target. Flying quietly at high speed the Switchblade delivers its onboard explosive payload with precision while minimizing collateral damage. With the ability to call off a strike even after the air vehicle is armed, Switchblade provides a level of control not available in other weapon systems.

“The unique capabilities provided by the Switchblade agile munition for standoff engagement, accuracy and controlled effects make it an ideal weapon for today’s fight and for U.S. military forces of the future,” said Bill Nichols, deputy product director at the Army’s Close Combat Weapons Systems project office.

Instead of requiring support from weapon systems controlled by other operating units, operators will be able to use the ground launched Switchblade variant to respond to enemy combatants with precision fire from a significant standoff distance, when and where required.

"Our dedicated team developed this breakthrough solution with a focus on satisfying important customer needs,” said Tom Herring, AeroVironment senior vice president and general manager of Unmanned Aircraft Systems. “Just as our small unmanned aircraft systems provide game-changing reconnaissance capabilities to ground forces, Switchblade provides a revolutionary rapid strike capability to protect our troops and give them a valuable new advantage on the battlefield.”

About AeroVironment’s Small UAS

Raven®, Wasp and Puma comprise AeroVironment’s Family of Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems. Operating with a common ground control system (GCS), this Family of Systems provides increased capability to the warfighter that can give ground commanders the option of selecting the appropriate aircraft based on the type of mission to be performed. This increased capability has the potential to provide significant force protection and force multiplication benefits to small tactical units. AeroVironment’s UAS logistics operation supports systems deployed worldwide to ensure a consistently high level of operational readiness. AeroVironment has delivered thousands of new and replacement small unmanned air vehicles. International purchasers of AeroVironment’s small UAS include the armed forces of Italy, Denmark, the Netherlands, Spain, France, Norway, the Czech Republic, Thailand and Australia.

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Japanese Scientist Creates Robot That Can Think Using Self-Organizing Incremental Neural Network (SOINN)

If these robots can think and (along with robots that can also eat), then I hesitate to think of the science fiction horrors that may be unleashed upon the world. I'm joking somewhat, but the technology is definitely there for a disaster in the making. The technology papers for this SOINN: Self-Organizing Incremental Neural Network are listed below.

In a world first, Osamu Hasegawa, associate professor at the Tokyo Insitute of Technology, has developed a system that allows robots to look around their environment and do research on the Internet, enabling them to "think" how best to solve a problem.

PhDThesis, Dr Shen Furao

View more presentations from Tokyo Institute of Technology

Monday, June 20, 2011

Boeing's Phantom Ray Completes First Flight (Unmanned Combat Air Vehicle)

Phantom Ray first flight, April 2011

Photo credit: Boeing photo

Neg. #: ED11-0128-181

It looks like a stealth bomber and has radar-evading capabilities. The Phantom Ray's specifications (including a fact sheet) are:

Description & Purpose: The Phantom Ray unmanned combat air vehicle (UCAV) is a fighter-sized technology demonstrator designed as a flying test bed for advanced technologies. Phantom Ray is an internally funded program that evolved from the prototype vehicle Boeing originally developed for the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA)/U.S. Air Force/U.S. Navy JointUnmanned Combat Air System (J-UCAS) program.

For a video on the Phantom Ray, click here.

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Unmanned airborne system reaches 7,500 feet, 178 knots

ST. LOUIS, May 3, 2011 -- The Boeing [NYSE: BA] Phantom Ray unmanned airborne system (UAS) successfully completed its first flight April 27 at NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif.

The 17-minute flight took place following a series of high-speed taxi tests in March that validated ground guidance, navigation and control and verified mission planning, pilot interface and operational procedures. Phantom Ray flew to 7,500 feet and reached a speed of 178 knots.

"This day has been two-and-a-half years in the making," said Darryl Davis, president, Boeing Phantom Works. "It's the beginning of providing our customers with a test bed to develop future unmanned systems technology, and a testament to the capabilities resident within Boeing. Just as follow-on tests will expand Phantom Ray's flight envelope, they also will help Boeing expand its presence in the unmanned systems market."

The flight demonstrated Phantom Ray's basic airworthiness, setting the stage for additional flights in the next few weeks. These company-funded flights will prepare Phantom Ray to support potential missions that may include intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance; suppression of enemy air defenses; electronic attack; strike; and autonomous air refueling.

"The first flight moves us farther into the next phase of unmanned aircraft," said Craig Brown, Phantom Ray program manager for Boeing. "Autonomous, fighter-sized unmanned aircraft are real, and the UAS bar has been raised. Now I’m eager to see how high that bar will go."

Phantom Ray is one of several programs in Phantom Works, including Phantom Eye, that is part of a rapid prototyping initiative to design, develop and build advanced aircraft and then demonstrate their capabilities. Boeing's portfolio of UAS solutions also includes the A160T Hummingbird, Integrator, ScanEagle and SolarEagle.

A unit of The Boeing Company, Boeing Defense, Space & Security is one of the world's largest defense, space and security businesses specializing in innovative and capabilities-driven customer solutions, and the world's largest and most versatile manufacturer of military aircraft. Headquartered in St. Louis, Boeing Defense, Space & Security is a $32 billion business with 66,000 employees worldwide. Follow us on Twitter: @BoeingDefense.

# # #

Related photos are available here.

Contact:
Chris Haddox
Boeing Phantom Works
Office: 314-234-6447
Mobile: 314-707-8891
chris.d.haddox@boeing.com

An Integrated Command and Control Architecture Concept for Unmanned Systems in the Year 2030 (June, 2010)

I happened to stumble across this June, 2010 document while doing a search for microdrones. If you are interested in the military's arsenal of unmanned aerial vehicles, check the above the document and scroll toward the end for an exhaustive list of the declassified vehicles. The military probably has other UAVs that are classified, so those vehicles will not appear in the above document.

As for the microdrones, there were mainstream media stories on them back in 2007, so this is not really breaking news.

When it takes to the skies above Liverpool this summer, it will be the first time such a device has been put to civilian use in this country.

With four stubby arms carrying the rotors, a miniature camera and a pair of landing skids, the near-silent drone is designed to hover above crime scenes and send footage to officers on the ground.

Source: London Evening Standard; The Defense Technical Information Center

Saturday, June 18, 2011

Apple Files U.S. Patent Application (#20110128384) to Disable iPhone's Video Cameras at Live Events

The above red apple isn't Apple's logo, but I don't have the money for a license or an ample fair use argument at this time.

Apple Files Patent to Disable iPhone's Video Cameras at Live Events (App. 20110128384)

There is no guarantee that this patent will ever issue, but technology companies typically file patent applications for technologies where patents will never issue. This application was filed by Apple on December 2, 2009. You can read the patent (Application #20110128384) at the USTPO entitled - Systems and Methods for Receiving Infrared Data with a Camera Designed to Detect Images Based on Visible Light.

1. A method for using a camera, comprising: using the camera to detect an image based on at least visible light; determining whether the image includes an infrared signal with encoded data; in response to determining that the image includes an infrared signal with encoded data, routing at least a portion of the image to circuitry operative to decode the encoded data in the infrared signal; and in response to determining that the image does not include an infrared signal with encoded data, routing the image to a display operative to display the image.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein routing at least a portion of the image to the circuitry comprises routing only the infrared signal.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein only images that do not include an infrared signal with encoded data are routed to the display.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising: decoding the encoded data in the infrared signal; and modifying a device operation based at least on the decoded data.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein modifying a device operation comprises applying a watermark to a detected image.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein modifying a device operation comprises disabling a device function...

One key portion of the patent's claims is the part where the iPhone's camera may be potentially disabled via infrared technology at live events.

Anybody holding up their iPhone will find it triggers infra-red sensors installed at the venue.

These sensors would then automatically instruct the iPhone to shut down its camera function, preventing an footage from being recorded.

Source: The Daily Mail

Wednesday, March 02, 2011

Philippine Department of Energy Allegedly Verifies Self-Charging Electric Vehicle Using Free Energy Technology

I have not verified this story, but if it is indeed true, then it will have global implications in terms of energy efficiency and usage. Basically, the inventor claims that he has created an electric vehicle system that is self-charging. Check the above video and below along with the selected information from the article and then decide whether it is legit.

Let's hope and pray that this guy doesn't come up missing!

Further information about this self-charging electric vehicle may be read below:

We are talking about an electric vehicle that can drive down the road without having to stop to re-charge, because the energy is derived onboard from the surroundings, in real time; in the tradition of Nikola Tesla's Pierce Arrow.

The inventor, Ismael Aviso has posted videos showing himself and others driving his electric vehicle down the road, and the single 12-Volt battery that is connected to the 11-kilowatt DC motor doesn't run down, but stays charged -- more than full, at 13 volts, as measured periodically...

...The energy allegedly comes through an onboard antenna...

Sunday, December 05, 2010

Video of X-37B Robotic Space Plane's Return to Earth at Vandenberg Air Force Base

The U.S. Air Force's mysterious X-37B robot space plane made a successful return to Earth today, landing at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. Click the picture above to view the video or click here to view it.

Thursday, December 02, 2010

Infowarrior Jason Bermas Discusses How the XBox Kinect Can Be Used to Track, Trace & Database

If the above video does not play, then click here to go to YouTube.

Tuesday, November 30, 2010

FLASHBACK: THE DIGITAL ONSLAUGHT IN ENTERTAINMENT: THE MUSIC & MOVIE INDUSTRY’S FEAR OF NEW DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES (2001)

THE DIGITAL ONSLAUGHT IN ENTERTAINMENT: THE MUSIC & MOVIE INDUSTRY’S FEAR OF NEW DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES (2001)

The above document is a legal research paper I did in law school back in 2001. I never published the above document, so I figured that I might as well dust off the digital archives and post it for the world to see (or not).

Friday, November 19, 2010

TSA Places $35 Million Order for Rapiscan's Advanced Aviation Checkpoint X-Ray Systems

The below press release is evidence of more money being made by companies producing invasive body scanning machines. Just for the record, the Chertoff Group represents Rapiscan Systems/OSI Systems. In case the name Chertoff seems familiar, yes, the company is run by former Homeland Security Director Michael Chertoff. But I'm sure there's no potential conflict in that relationship.

Yeah right.

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Rapiscan Systems Receives Orders for $35M for Advanced Aviation Checkpoint X-Ray Systems
Torrance, CA
9/22/2010

Rapiscan Systems, a leader in advanced security screening solutions, today announced that it has received orders from the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) totaling $35 million for the Rapiscan 620DV Advanced Technology (AT) checkpoint X-ray baggage inspection system. The delivery orders are among the first to be placed by TSA under the terms of a five year Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract. The 620DV AT systems will be deployed by TSA at airport checkpoints in the United States, where they will be used to screen passengers' carry-on baggage.

Deepak Chopra, CEO of OSI Systems, commented: "TSA is widely regarded as one of the most demanding customers in terms of advanced threat detection, product reliability and operational performance. This order from TSA confirms that the Rapiscan 620DV is truly a state-of-the-art aviation threat detection solution that also improves checkpoint efficiency and the experience of passengers."

The Rapiscan 620DV is an advanced checkpoint screening system that uses advanced technology to automatically indicate potential threats while improving checkpoint efficiency. The 620DV's proprietary multiple view X-ray technology provides systems operators with a more comprehensive view of the items screened, which in turn reduces the need for time consuming re-scanning of bags as they go through a checkpoint. To date, Rapiscan has received orders for approximately 1,000 620DV systems which have been deployed to airports worldwide.

Ajay Mehra, President of Rapiscan Systems commented: "We are very pleased that TSA has selected the 620DV for deployment at U.S. airports. The system?s flexibility, along with its outstanding technical and operational capabilities, ensures that it will remain a key contributor to aviation security for years to come."

About Rapiscan Systems
Rapiscan Systems, a division of OSI Systems, Inc. is a leading global supplier of security inspection solutions utilizing X-ray and gamma-ray imaging, and advanced threat identification techniques such as neutron and diffraction analysis. The company's products are sold into four market segments; Baggage and Parcel Inspection, Cargo and Vehicle Inspection, Hold Baggage Screening and People Screening. The company has an installed base globally of more than 70,000 security and inspection systems. The Rapiscan Systems product line is manufactured at four locations and supported by a global support service network. The company was recognized for its market leadership with one of the United Kingdom's most prestigious distinctions, The Queen's Awards for Enterprise, and named by Frost & Sullivan as the 2008 North American Homeland Security Inspection and Screening Company of the Year. For more information on Rapiscan Systems, please visit www.rapiscansystems.com.

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Such statements include information regarding the company's expectations, goals or intentions about the future, including expectations relating to the amount of the Company's potential revenues under the indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract referenced above. The actual results may differ materially from those described in or implied by any forward-looking statement.

For Further Information:
Andrew Goldsmith
Vice President, Marketing
Rapiscan Systems
Tel: (703) 812-0322
E: agoldsmith@rapiscansystems.com

Sunday, October 17, 2010

Comparison of Three (3) Infrared Thermal Detection Systems and Self-Report for Mass Fever Screening (Fever Scanners)

Comparison of 3 Infrared Thermal Detection Systems and Self-Report for Mass Fever Screening (Remote Fever D...

The next time you are at the airport, you may be "fever-scanned" to see if you have a fever. I cannot wait for the day the first non-sick person is denied flight privileges, because a fever scanner says the person has a fever.

Two commercially available scanners meant for use in airports and other public facilities can reliably detect people with fevers, making them useful during disease outbreaks, U.S. researchers reported on Wednesday.

The scanners, which work at a distance of 3 to 6 feet, do a better job of detecting fevers than when people are simply asked if they feel feverish, An Nguyen of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and colleagues found.

Source: CDC ; Reuters

Saturday, October 16, 2010

DARPA Awards Pratt & Whitney $33.8 Million Contract to Develop Constant Volume Combustion Engine Technology

DARPA has more hits than the Jacksons, Madonna, Prince & Lady Gaga combined. Whenever I do an Internet search of DARPA (and I do them often), I see pages of new articles about some wild project it has in development or production. Check out the latest hit - the Constant Volume Combustion (CVC) engine technology that is part of the Vulcan advanced propulsion program (press release follows below). DARPA says this about its Vulcan program:

Program Manager: Dr. Arthur Mabbett

The goal of the Vulcan demonstration program is to design, build, and ground test a Constant Volume Combustion (CVC) technology system that demonstrates a 20% fuel burn reduction for a ship based power generation turbine. CVC has been under development for more than a decade. Considerable progress has been made and the technology is believed mature enough to enable a dramatic new system capability. CVC, when combined with turbine engines, offers the ability to design a new class of hybrid turbine power generation engines and Mach 4+ air breathing engines. The Vulcan system will consist of a full scale CVC, a compressor, and a turbine. CVC architectures could include Pulsed Detonation Engines (PDEs), Continuous Detonation Engines (CDEs) or other unsteady CVC architectures. The CVC demonstrated in the Vulcan program would have direct application to aviation turbine engines, ship propulsion turbine engines, high mach air breathing engines, and commercial power turbine engines.

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P&W Awarded $33.8 Million DARPA Contract for New Engine Technology Development

Jeff Jurgensmier
Pratt & Whitney
+1.860.565.4490
jeffrey.jurgensmier@pw.utc.com

Stephanie Duvall
Pratt & Whitney Military Engines
+1.860.614.0783
stephanie.duvall@pw.utc.com

EAST HARTFORD, Conn., October 12, 2010 – Pratt & Whitney received a $33.8 million contract from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) to develop Constant Volume Combustion (CVC) engine technology under Phase II of the Vulcan advanced propulsion program. Pratt & Whitney is a United Technologies Corp. (NYSE:UTX) company.

CVC technology has the potential to significantly decrease the fuel consumption of U.S. Navy surface combatants and increase overall operational capability. A CVC engine’s performance improvements come from a paradigm shift in the way fuel is burned. Conventional engines burn fuel at a constant pressure. CVC engines combust fuel at a constant volume and are significantly more efficient than conventional engines.

The goal of the Vulcan demonstration program is to design, build and ground test a CVC technology system that demonstrates a 20 percent fuel burn reduction for a ship-based power generation turbine. CVC, when combined with jet turbine engines, offers the ability to design a new class of hybrid turbine power generation engines for naval ships and air-breathing aircraft engines.

“This program leverages Pratt & Whitney’s CVC intellectual property and previous test experience as well as the company’s long heritage of gas turbine engine development,” said Bill Gostic, vice president, Advanced Programs & Technology, Pratt & Whitney. “Under Phase II, DARPA is striving to develop engine technologies that will bring new efficiencies to ships.”
During Phase II, the CVC module will be developed, fabricated, tested and fully characterized through analytical models as well as component and subsystem testing prior to the final integration into the turbine engine for U.S. naval surface vessels.

In 2009, Pratt & Whitney received a $3 Million Vulcan Phase I contract. This part of the Vulcan program focused on a combined-cycle propulsion system architecture, with a separate CVC module and turbine engine, intended for high-Mach military aircraft. In late 2009 Pratt & Whitney tested the RASER CVC rig using IR&D funding. This testing demonstrated the ability to operate a CVC engine on both JP-8 jet fuel and conventional diesel fuel.

In parallel with the Phase I effort, DARPA conducted a business case analysis to identify the most productive CVC applications. Results of the analysis showed integrating CVC technology into ship-based power generation turbines using a CVC combustor retrofit results in significant cost savings. Despite their small output and size relative to the propulsion turbine units, the ship’s power generation turbine engine units can consume up to 40% of the total fuel used by naval surface vessels.

Pratt & Whitney is a world leader in the design, manufacture and service of aircraft engines, space propulsion systems and industrial gas turbines. United Technologies, based in Hartford, Conn., is a diversified company providing high technology products and services to the global aerospace and commercial building industries.

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Monday, September 27, 2010

Suppressed Technologies? (5,081 Inventions in United States Under Secrecy Orders, Fiscal Year 2009)

USPTO Inventor Secrecy Activity Report (Fiscal Years 1988-2009)

Friday, September 24, 2010

Oak Ridge National Laboratory's Cultural And Media Influences on Opinion (CAMIO) Model of Group Behavior

I have not been able to find much information on The Cultural And Media Influences on Opinion (CAMIO) Model of Group Behavior. The only official documentation I was able to find is the attached picture above. Nevertheless, it appears to be a technology straight out of The Matrix and a technology that can be used to study and simulate the political mood of certain demographics. If anyone has any additional information on CAMIO, please feel free to post the links to the information in the comments. Thank you.

The Cultural And Media Influences on Opinion (CAMIO) simulation of group behavior is an agent-based computational model that can be used to examine the opinions, issue stances, political allegiances or other judgments held by members of a particular group within a society and examine how these opinions change or can be influenced to change over time. Of particular interest is changes caused by an external organization such as the international or internal media. CAMIO is a model of how small groups of acquaintances form from larger populations and change over time; how opinions spread throughout the groups; how an outside entity, such as the media, can influence the spread of such opinion; and how this population of small groups may become polarized or unified around a particular issue.

Source: CSM (Computer Science & Mathematics)