Important Innovations

2 New Hypersonic Weapons Plans  Artist Concept of USAF Hypersonic Vehicle Star Wars As the photo shows, the USAF hypersonic system looks like Star Wars revisited. The US Airforce is jumpstarting 2, new hypersonic weapons programs.  A compelling reason: intense competitive pressure from Russia and China which have aggressive hypersonic programs of their own. Space Wars The USAF has awarded Lockheed Martin 2 contracts for hypersonic weapons in the past few months worth $1.4 billion.  The most recent, last week, is a $480 million contract to design the Air Launched Rapid Response Weapon (ARRW).  Some call it the most dangerous space weapon ever. Hyper-Speeds Hypersonic weapon systems travel far faster than the speed of sound.  They do Mach 5 plus or 3,806 mph.  And a key differentiator is that they're highly maneuverable.  Right now, the US has no defense system capable of taking them down because of their hyper speeds and maneuverability.  That's why this research is

DARPA's AI Exploration Program The Pentagon's Advanced Research Projects Agency DARPA is aiming for an artificial intelligence & machine learning system that enables scientists and researchers to push the limits of science. Full Speed to Beat Global Competitors This DARPA push is on full speed.  They want to establish the feasibility of new AI concepts within 18 months.  The goal is to outpace AI scientific and technology discovery efforts globally. The program is called ASKE or Automating Scientific Knowledge Extraction. Fundamentals of Superpowered AI DARPA wants an AI system that rapidly aggregates scientific data and automatically identifies new data.  The system should automatically verify published scientific results and monitor in real time "fragile economic, political, social and environmental systems undergoing complex events."  The info will be integrated into a machine-curated model that generates top of the line hypotheses.  All to driv

Downloads 50 Gigabit Movie in 4 Seconds DARPA-Northrup Grumman's 100 gigabit Transmission System Northrup Grumman and DARPA have successfully tested super high speed, 100 gigabit transmissions.  The tests were conducted over a 12 mile stretch in Los Angeles.  They've proved that 100g transmissions work and have set the standard for it.  Northrup disclosed the system can download a 50 gigabit Blu Ray move in 4 seconds. 2-Way and Wireless DARPA is the Pentagon's Advanced Research Projects Agency.  The system makes for much faster delivery of intelligence and surveillance data for the military over long distances. It's a 2-way, wireless transmission data link. Various Speeds The system features active tracking.  The transmission speed can vary from 9g to 102g depending on what the transmitting and receiving networks can handle.  Of great note:  it can send 100g speed data directly from aircraft.  That provides real-time access to intelligence and surveillance

DARPA Goes After Practical, Competitive Uses for Quantum Computing Exponential Computing Power thru Quantum Computing The US Defense Department's Advanced Research Projects Agency DARPA wants to know how quantum computing can help the US surge ahead of technology competitors like China and Russia. Quantum computing uses the laws of quantum mechanics to accomplish complex data operations.  Unlike traditional computers that use bits, it uses qubits and delivers exponential computing power. DARPA Questions and Challenge DARPA specifically wants to know how quantum computing will practically impact AI, physical systems, machine learning, data analytics and enhancing distributed sensing.  This is a leading indicator of the future of technology and innovation as DARPA views it. Leading Edge of Where Quantum Computing is Taking Us - Harbinger of The Future DARPA is asking industry and academics for proposals to research the real possibilities of quantum computing.  There are 4 k

Real-time Mapping For Unban Infrastructure Like Subway Systems, Tunnels, Caves It's a DARPA technology challenge.  The Pentagon's Advanced Research Projects Agency is challenging teams to build tech systems that rapidly chart urban infrastructure like subway systems, also caves and tunnels.   It's called the Subterranean Challenge.  DARPA wants tech to navigate underground areas while humans stay on the surface.  They want the systems to rapidly map and search often dangerous underground areas. For the Military, First Responders This tech is primarily to be developed for the military and first responders in subterranean conditions.  Often they face a time sensitive situation, difficult technical challenges, dynamic terrain, bad communications and an expansive area of operation. These systems could also be used for infrastructure inspection, mining, construction and archeology. 3 Year Challenge This is a 3 year challenge for technology development.  There's $4

DARPA's SafeDocuments Program for Internet DARPA's newest project is targeted at ensuring the integrity of documents that move over the web.  The goal is to improve the ability of software to spot when documents, whether text, video or image, have been maliciously tampered with.  DARPA is the Pentagon's Advanced Research Projects Agency.  It's the moving force behind the creation of the internet, cloud computing, drones and much more. Safer Internet Requires Safer Electronic Documents DARPA's looking for better ways to detect and reject invalid and hacked data without impacting the functioning of the data formats themselves.  As DARPA officials put it, to create a safer internet requires safer electronic documents.  According to DARPA SafeDocs Manager Sergey Bratus:  "We're looking for ways to reduce the complexity of electronic document exchange and minimize the means of exploitation from cybercriminals to nation states." Increasing Problem

DARPA's Biostasis Program Aims "To Slow Life to Save Life" Source:  DARPA Bistasis Biostatis The program is to buy extra time for soldiers' battlefield injuries as they await medical care.  DARPA, the Pentagon's Advanced Research Projects Agency, is working to develop treatments that slow down the body's biochemical reactions, tipping it into a slowed or suspended state until medical help arrives.  For those critically injured, time is a matter of life and death. Biological Suspended State This program is inspired by nature.  Wood frogs and microscopic creatures called "water bears" can survive extreme radiation, dehydration and freezing.  They do so by entering a state called cryptobiosis.  All metabolic processes appear to have stopped but the organism is still alive. Long Term Research This DARPA program is just getting started.  They're beginning at the cell and tissue level.  Then they'll scale up to the whole organism.  I

Power Beaming is an Emerging Disruptive Technology Source: Silent Falcon UAS Technologies -Silent Falcon California-based Silent Falcon UAS Technologies is partnering with the Pentagon's Advanced Research Projects Agency -DARPA -  to implement laser power beaming for its solar-electric powered drones.  Silent Falcon drones can fly non-stop 6 hours using batteries and solar energy. They are the world's first solar electric, long range, long endurance unmanned aircraft system or UAS. DARPA wants to make the flight time much longer by topping off the batteries via laser beams from the ground.  DARPA officials say they're right on the brink of delivering this disruptive technology. Endless Uses for Endless Flights What DARPA wants is drones capable of indefinite flight.  The drones would engage in sequences of flying and flying while charging from a high powered laser beam directed from the ground.  There would be no need to land and refuel.  This emerging technology

Disappearing Act  ICARUS Mid-stage Disappearance MIT founded Morse Corporation of Cambridge, MA has developed a drone designed to self-destruct and disappear after its mission is accomplished.  It's called ICARUS or Inbound, Controlled, Air-Releasable, Unrecovered System project.   DARPA Funded DARPA, the Pentagon's Advanced Research Projects Agency, provided Morse $8million to create an aerial disappearing delivery system.  Essentially drones deployed from aircraft, deliver their payload and then self-destruct and disappear. ICARUS ICARUS can fly 100 miles, land within 30 feet of its target and dissolve within 4 hours or within 30 minutes of sunrise.  It's in a highly advanced research stage right now.  It's for the military in dangerous situations.  For instance, to deliver blood supplies without compromising their position. Components ICARUS is made of film with a guidance system smaller than a tennis ball. The polymers that comprise the rest of it

What's New Under the Sun Source:  DARPA The Silent Falcon Laser Powered Drones DARPA, the US Defense Department's Advanced Research Projects Agency, is ramping up a program to power drones solely by lasers.  It's part of the program that created The Silent Falcon, a solar electric, unmanned aircraft system that uses laser power. The Silent Falcon The Silent Falcon is designed for long range, long endurance military missions.  It uses solar arrays to charge its batteries and power its motors, avionics and payloads. Never Ending Flights DARPA is planning a test to demonstrate the feasibility of recharging Silent Falcon's batteries onboard, inflight by using a powerful laser.  The light energy transmitted by a ground based laser will be received by photovoltaic receiving arrays in the aircraft's vertical tail.  This will enable indefinitely long flights and eliminate the need to land to refuel.  DARPA expects to deliver this system to the US military in t

Nimble Approach to Beat Global Competition in AI and Technology Development The US Defense Department's Advanced Research Projects Agency DARPA just announced a bold program to accelerate the "3rd wave" of artificial intelligence innovation.  It's going to fund 18 month experiments of potential AI breakthroughs. Super Fast Turnaround To jumpstart this, DARPA is speeding up contracting and funding of innovative concepts to within 3 months of their initial announcement.  The DARPA team will determine the value and the feasibility of the project within 18 months.  The funding awards could be up to $1 million each. DARPA's Goal DARPA is the force behind the creation of the internet, GPS, cloud computing, drones and much more.  It's mission is to provide the US military with overwhelming technological advantages.  The purpose of this quick turnaround AI innovation advancement program is clear.  DARPA wants the US to outpace competing global AI and techno

The Transforming Wheel-Track Changes Wheels in Motion To see it is to believe it.  It's called the Transforming Wheel-Track  This is the US Defense Department's Advanced Research Projects Agency DARPA's latest, "go-anyplace, anytime" truck for the US military.  It was designed and developed by a team from Carnegie Mellon's National Robotics Engineering Center.  It's breakthrough technology that can alter a wheel's shape and function while it's in motion. Dual Action in 2 Seconds For soft surfaces, the truck can navigate the terrain on triangular tracks.  For hard surfaces, it changes into round wheels for fast travel.  The switch can be made in 2 seconds while in motion, which provides soldiers the ability to adjust as needed. Designed for military use, it's also practical for search and rescue missions and construction. DARPA's X Vehicles The Transforming Wheel-Track is part of DARPA's Ground X Vehicles technologies program.

Falcon HTV-2 This is one of DARPA's most amazing, daring and high risk projects.  It's called the Falcon Hypersonic Technology Vehicle or Falcon HTV-2.  It was designed to overcome the many challenges of hypersonic flight, which is something DARPA is committed to developing.  It's a concept vehicle that has helped to pave the way to a hypersonic future. DARPA's Goa l The end goal is a vehicle that can reach anyplace in the world in less than an hour.  Falcon, designed by Elon Musk's Space X in partnership with DARPA, was designed to go up to Mach 20 or 13,000 miles per hour.  That would take you from NYC to LA in 12 minutes. Lost in Space Falcon is an unmanned, rocket-launched maneuverable aircraft. Also it's a data-truck with tons of sensors onboard.  In a test flight several years ago, showing the difficulty and risks of developing this kind of advanced technology, DARPA harvested only 9 minutes worth of data, before losing contact with the vehicle.

Wednesday Series:  Innovation Addressing Pressing Global Needs - Saving Our Oceans DARPA's Smart Oceans Initiative The US Defense Department's Advanced Research Projects Agency, DAPRA currently has a program underway to deploy an ocean based, "Internet of Things" on the open oceans.  DARPA's Ocean of Things consists of thousands of small, low cost, floats with sensors for real time monitoring of maritime activity.  Most parts of the open ocean are essentially unmonitored and on radio silence which is amazing because oceans comprise 71% of the earth's surface. Open Sea Communications The goal is to form a distributed sensor network.  The small floats will have a suite of commercially available sensors to collect environmental data such as ocean temperature, sea conditions, locations as well as commercial vessels, aircraft and marine mammals moving in the monitored areas. Satellite Transmissions to the Cloud The floats would send the data via

DARPA's Going for the Gold with Tiny Robots  DARPA, the US Defense Department's Advanced Research Projects Agency, has just announced a bug sized Olympic Robot competition.  They're asking for innovative designs for robots that measure a fraction of an inch. On Your Mark, Get Set, Go This isn't fun and games.  This research program is serious and potentially life-saving work.  DARPA's mission is to provide the US military with overwhelming technological advantages.  It's storied history of innovation includes GPS, cloud computing, the internet and most of the world's most advanced robots.  The tiny bots are going to compete against each other for agility, strength and speed for dangerous missions. SHRIMP SHRIMP is the name of the tiny robot program. It's DARPA's Short-Range Independent Microrobotic Platforms.  The bots are going to be tested for use in locations people can't navigate or are dangerous and inaccessible to humans.  DARPA s