Technology-Amazing Military Technologies of the Future--By Tech Studio
Robot Mules
From Massachusetts-based Boston Dynamics, which works closely with DARPA, an amazingly agile "pack mule" robot will one day be commonplace on military missions in the field.
The robot will carry gear, such as heavy backpacks that can slow down ground forces. The four-legged "mule" easily negotiates rocks and divots in the road and field. It is intended to follow a military unit of soldiers autonomously, catching up with the unit on field forays with supplies, including food and ammunition. Refinements have made the robot surprisingly quiet, an important characteristic on a secret mission. Future versions of the pack mule will be able to interpret verbal and visual commands.
Meshworm
One of the tiniest robots in development -- about the size of a fingertip -- the Meshworm moves and acts like a small earthworm. It propels itself inch by inch, using artificial muscles that mimic the way an earthworm moves, by stretching one part of itself forward, then pulling the rest of its body along behind it.
The Meshworm can move silently into the tiniest places to report back data, such as temperatures inside a confined space. It can also record audio and maybe even video in future versions. Made entirely of synthetic fibrous material, it's nearly indestructible. You can step on it or hit it with a hammer and it will keep going because the fibers are not damaged by impact.
Working alongside DARPA on the Meshworm are the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Harvard University and South Korea's Seoul National University.
Working alongside DARPA on the Meshworm are the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Harvard University and South Korea's Seoul National University.
Microwave Ray Gun
This weapon is designed to inject blasts of sound directly into a person's head from a couple of hundred yards away.
Microwaves enter the head directly through the skull, not the ear, so protective earplugs are useless. The inner ear will sense the microwave and recognize it as sound. And the microwave blast can be adjusted to create different kinds of sounds.
Versions being developed include bulk microwave-emitting systems for the Army and small, rifle-style versions for the Marines and special operations forces. Some early versions have been field-tested in Iraq and Afghanistan.
It's also envisioned that police could use versions of the gun for crowd control -- "sound bullets" instead of nonlethal rubber pellets. Sierra Nevada Corp., headquartered in Sparks, Nev., is working on a version of the microwave ray gun under a U.S. Navy research contract.
Live-Fire Trainers
In the near future, soldiers will receive their live-fire training and marksman training with the aid of special, robotically controlled Segway personal transport devices.
Specially armored Segways, adapted by Marathon Targets of Sydney, Australia, are called "smart targets." They can move in a lifelike manner with unpredictable turns, stops and sprints, as would a real live target. Lifelike hardened plastic dummies on the Segways can be made up to look like enemies in uniform, terrorists or assassins. Such smart targets resemble live-fire combat much more than the old wooden pop-up targets that have been used for a century.
Marathon is currently conducting tests with the U.S. Marines and other parts of the military as well as with Segway. Robotic live-fire training is sure to become routine in a few years.
Specially armored Segways, adapted by Marathon Targets of Sydney, Australia, are called "smart targets." They can move in a lifelike manner with unpredictable turns, stops and sprints, as would a real live target. Lifelike hardened plastic dummies on the Segways can be made up to look like enemies in uniform, terrorists or assassins. Such smart targets resemble live-fire combat much more than the old wooden pop-up targets that have been used for a century.
Marathon is currently conducting tests with the U.S. Marines and other parts of the military as well as with Segway. Robotic live-fire training is sure to become routine in a few years.
Space-Based Laser
Though international agreements bar the militarization of space, researchers are nevertheless working on weapons that could be used in space – just in case. Existing agreements could someday expire and a space laser deployment would be seen as necessary if any other country moves toward deploying its own.
As envisioned by scientists, a space-based laser could send a powerful destructive beam at, say, an enemy's ballistic missile site a few thousand miles away. Another possible application would be to use a space laser to provide protection against attacks made on U.S. satellites in orbit.
Working on the space laser are the Sandia National Laboratory, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a number of defense contractors, including Northrop Grumman and Lockheed Martin.
As envisioned by scientists, a space-based laser could send a powerful destructive beam at, say, an enemy's ballistic missile site a few thousand miles away. Another possible application would be to use a space laser to provide protection against attacks made on U.S. satellites in orbit.
Working on the space laser are the Sandia National Laboratory, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a number of defense contractors, including Northrop Grumman and Lockheed Martin.
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