
Controlling Drones with the Human Brain
A researcher from Arizona State University wants to command machines with the human brain. In fact, within ten years, Panagiotis Artemiadis, professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering at Arizona State University, envisions a swarm of brain-controlled drones playing a critical role in a range of applications, including agriculture and search-and-rescue operations.
Rare Material Could Shorten Air Travel Times
An average flight from Miami to Seattle takes about six hours and 40 minutes, but imagine being able to reduce that time to 50 minutes or less. A recent study by NASA and Binghamton University researchers focuses on boron nitride nanotubes (BNNTs).
Shaping Aviation: Metal with Memory
Through NASA’s Convergent Aeronautics Solutions (CAS) Project, a team of engineers working within its Spanwise Adaptive Wing (SAW) project is investigating the feasibility of bending or shaping portions of an aircraft’s wings in-flight, potentially increasing performance and efficiency by reducing weight and drag.
Drone Control: How the Human Brain Can Guide Robotic Swarms
Who needs a keyboard, a mouse, or a joystick? A researcher from Arizona State University wants to command machines with the human brain.
Testing Large–Scale Vehicle–Borne Improvised Explosive Devices
In July of 2016, a refrigerator truck packed with explosives detonated next to a crowded apartment block in Baghdad’s Karrada neighborhood. The blast killed 323 people and was one of the worst Vehicle–Borne Improvised Explosive Device (VBIED also known as car bombs) attacks ever recorded. On May 30, 2017, a VBIED in a tanker truck ripped through the embassy quarter of Kabul, killing more than 150 people. Several embassies, including those of Germany and France, sustained damage despite the presence of blast protection structures.
Army Scientists Discover Power in Urine
Scientists at the U.S. Army Research Laboratory observed an unexpected result when combining urine with a newly engineered nano-powder based on aluminum. It instantly releases hydrogen from the urine at a much higher rate than with ordinary water.
Putting Smart Weapons to The Test
In the old days, a slingshot, BB gun, rifle or cannon was only as smart as the marksman taking aim. Now, many weapons are guided to their targets with the precision of infrared sensors and lasers. The technology continues to advance, but testing technology has lagged behind, leaving new generations of weapons and their tactical advantages unavailable to today's troops.
New Products: October 2017 Aerospace & Defense Technology
5-Port and 8-Port Managed Gigabit Switch
MPL AG (Dättwil Switzerland)enhances its Network Switch product range with a 5-port & 8-port managed switch with compact enclosure. The new versatile 5-port &8-port MAGBES consists of various models and can be equipped with RJ45, M12, Fiber connectors, or even with lockable headers. The eight port comes either with RJ45 or M12 connectors (X-coded or D-coded), of which four ports can be fiber optic. On the 5-port version, two ports can be fiber optic.The enclosure comes with DIN-Rail or Flange mounting. All ports have status LEDs, indicating the activity and speed of each port and can be seen externally. The indication signals can also be accessed remotely.
Scaling LiDAR Optical Payloads from Drones to Miniature UAVs
The recent surge in demand for adaptive cruise control (ACC) and commercial autonomous vehicles has drawn a lot of attention to these innovative applications. Based on pulsed laser diodes and hybrid receivers with Avalanche Photodiodes (APDs) for laser range finding (LRF), these systems are often classified under the general acronym LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging).
Quality and Validation of Digital Designs for Aerospace and Defense
As aerospace and defense manufacturing becomes increasingly digitized—from the earliest design stages to the factory floor and beyond—data accuracy is fundamental to realizing the speed, quality and repeatability promised by interconnected and automated computer systems and manufacturing machines.