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Moog Inc. Space and Defense Group and its defense-industry partner, DRS Technologies, recently introduced a new Reconfigurable Integrated-weapons Platform (RIwP) during a live fire demonstration at Redstone Arsenal.

The objective of Environmental Security Technology Certification Program (ESTCP) Project MR-201002, Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) Munitions and Explosives of Concern (MEC) Detection System, was to integrate an untethered and unmanned underwater vehicle with a total field magnetometer for underwater munitions detection and upgrade magnetic noise compensation software to reduce interference from electrical and dynamic influences such as vehicle heading, pitch and roll.

The Army Research Laboratory Power-Line Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Modeling and Simulation (ARL-PLUMS) Software Tool allows a user to model, compute, and analyze the quasistatic electric and magnetic fields around alternating current (AC) power lines. ARL-PLUMS comes with an interactive graphical user interface (GUI), which accesses a compute engine to calculate these fields around these lines due to various ground and line geometries and load conditions. ARLPLUMS allows the user to rapidly define all significant model parameters and compute the electric and magnetic fields along a UAV path or in a cutting plane. In addition, a set of false-color plots can be created to show the time-varying nature of the fields as a movie. ARL-PLUMS also comes with an application programming interface (API) for accessing some of these features from MATLAB without using the GUI.

Hull, deck plate, and tank inspection for corrosion, deformation, and fractures is a necessary part of ship maintenance to ensure functional integrity and proper operation of the ship. These inspections are labor intensive, expensive, and often dangerous. A multi-segmented magnetic wheeled robot can assist the surveyors in these tasks.

Currently fielded EOD (explosive ordnance disposal) robots are limited in terms of both mechanical ability and autonomous capabilities when compared to the current state-of-the-art in mobile robotics. To combat this problem the Joint Service EOD Program is developing the Advanced EOD Robot System (AEODRS). AEODRS consists of three system variants that vary in size: small for dismounted operations, medium for tactical operations, and large for base/infrastructure operations. Differing from past EOD UGV development efforts, these robots will be designed under a modular architecture consisting of several capability modules that are to be developed separately.

As the number of autonomous vehicles continues to increase for both commercial and military applications, collision avoidance algorithms are of the utmost importance to successfully execute missions in dynamic environments.

Nuclear powered submarines can stay submerged for days at a time and only have to come to periscope depth (PD) for communications and minor house-keeping items. Submarines are completely reliant on satellites for communications and orders from their commanders ashore. A command and control denied environment (C2DE) is an area in which communications are jammed or degraded. There is no technology currently available that allows submarines to conduct communications in a C2DE. The only method currently available is for the submarine to navigate to unaffected waters, conduct all of its communications, and then to travel back to the C2DE, wasting valuable time and possibly compromising the submarine’s mission.

New Imaging Technologies (Verrières le Buisson, France) introduces the NSC1401, a new analog wide dynamic range InGaAs sensor series in 320x256 pixels (QVGA). The NSC1401 uses a new generation of ROIC with 320x256 pixels at 25um pitch coupled to an InGaAs retina that operates in WDR mode and global shutter. The spectral response range goes from 900nm to 1700nm. The analog front end is designed to achieve extremely low input noise and ultra-fast response time down to 200ns for applications such as active imaging. The sensor operates both in linear integration mode and in log response. The NSC1401 can operate without TEC within an ambient temperature range from -40°C to 70°C.

Quantum Composers (Bozeman, MT) has launched a new touchscreen controller for simplified control of laser systems. The all new Smart Controller is an easy to use extension for manual repair systems that may include a microscope setup and has the functionality to control the systems energy, firing mode, rate, and slit size and shape. The Smart Controller is a portable device that eliminates the need for a desktop computer to operate laser systems. An optional video module is also offered which overlays the outline of the slit shape onto standard composite or s-video signals from the system camera. This feature allows the user to clearly see where the repair area will be on the monitor before actually making cuts.

Vision Components (Ettlingen, Germany) has introduced the new VC Flash infrared area lighting for OEMs. The lighting module has been developed specifically for traffic surveillance applications. Fitted with 24 high power LEDs, it ensures optimal brightness in mobile and stationary ANPR/ALPR applications, red light enforcement, access control, and toll collection without a glare effect that could endanger drivers. VC Flash illuminates an area measuring 7.5 by 5.0 m from 20 m away. The module measures 195 x 80 x 20 mm, and operates with a central wavelength of 850 nm and a spectral width of 30 nm. Power consumption peaks at 36 W for the highest pulse duration and pulse frequency levels.