Defense Technology International - January/February 2008 - (Page 49) I GEORGIA TECH RESEARCH INSTITUTE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN Explosive Chips Tiny, porous copper structures could be the key to significantly reducing the size and cost of next-generation munitions, while improving reliability. The copper structures will be incorporated into integrated circuits and chemically converted to millimeter-diameter explosives, effectively creating explosives on a chip. Scientists at the Georgia Tech Research Institute and the Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC) developed the structures. Because they can be made with microelectronics fabrication processes, the structures allow mass production of microelectromechanical fuzes for munitions. The Navy believes this research will produce low-cost, reliable detonators that lead to smarter weapons at the smallest levels. The next step is for the NSWC to integrate fuze components into the smallest possible package and produce them in large quantities. The technology would also reduce toxic heavy metals and waste in weapons production. I 1 OVER THE EDGE Flying Fish University of Michigan researchers have developed what they claim is the first unmanned floating sensor platform that performs autonomous water takeoffs and landings. The Flying Fish seaplane is an electric aircraft with a 7-ft. wingspan. Designed to monitor a specific area, it drifts along the water until an onboard GPS receiver tells the craft it has floated too far. This triggers a takeoff sequence that launches the aircraft in 10 meters (32.8 ft.) of travel so it can return to its surveillance area. GPS coordinates are used to land the plane in the right area. The flight pattern is a recording of a student’s remote piloting of the plane, which keeps the takeoff “blind.” Without a blind takeoff, researchers say the aircraft would be confused by oscillation of the waves and its coordinates thrown off. The project, part of the Persistent Ocean Surveillance-Station-Keeping program, is funded by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency. A Darpa spokesman says the agency has made no decision about the next phase of the program. I 2 U.S. ARMY Mind Reader Honeywell is developing a system that will enable analysts to process satellite, ground and airborne surveillance images six times faster than computer-based systems, with sensors that monitor brain signals. The Honeywell Image Triage System (HITS) is part of a program called Neurotechnology for Intelligence Analysts, funded by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency. The concept is based on the premise that the brain identifies significant information in an image faster than an analyst’s body responds to the cue. The military will try and tap into an analyst’s brain to pick up targetrecognition signals before the analyst figures out what’s happening. HITS presents 10-20 images per second to analysts while head-mounted electroencephalogram sensors detect neural signals associated with target recognition. The analyst then reviews high-priority threats or targets tagged by the system. I www.aviationweek.com/dti JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2008 DEFENSE TECHNOLOGY INTERNATIONAL 49 3 http://www.aviationweek.com/dti
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