Armed with Science | Providing You Information on Military Science and Technology

Follow Me, Robot

Filed under Robots, Videos by jtozer on January 10, 2013 at 7:14 am {no comments}

Working with the Marine Corps Warfighting Laboratory (MCWL), researchers from DARPA‘s LS3 program demonstrated new advances in the robot’s control, stability and maneuverability, including “Leader Follow“.

Watch this:

This includes decision making, enhanced roll recovery, exact foot placement over rough terrain, the ability to maneuver in an urban environment, and verbal command capability.

For more on this story, click here.

Information and video provided by DARPA

———-

Disclaimer: The appearance of hyperlinks does not constitute endorsement by the Department of Defense of this website or the information, products or services contained therein. For other than authorized activities such as military exchanges and Morale, Welfare and Recreation sites, the Department of Defense does not exercise any editorial control over the information you may find at these locations. Such links are provided consistent with the stated purpose of this DoD website.

The Navy’s Support Of Oceanic Research

Filed under Energy by jtozer on January 9, 2013 at 7:38 am {no comments}

An article that recently appeared in the New York Times discussed a project led by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to analyze and map underwater sounds in the ocean and determine the locations and densities of marine mammals.

The U.S. Navy is a key contributor to this effort, in terms of funding as well as participation by our marine scientists. We see the project as a great start for managing ocean sound and understanding the effects, and hope to see it continue to grow with collaboration from other research-focused organizations.

Recognizing the complexity of the ocean issues, the wide range of species, and the diverse needs of the stakeholders involved, it is vital that the maps and data that result from this work be based on the best quality science.

Sonar Technician 2nd Class Richard Schnitz, from Filmore, Calif., stands watch in the sonar control room aboard the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Kidd (DDG 100). (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Josue L. Escobosa/Released)

(more…)

HAZMAT: Know The Facts

Filed under Education & Culture by jtozer on January 8, 2013 at 7:35 am {no comments}

Most jobs in the Navy, and onboard amphibious assault ship USS Peleliu (LHA 5), require hazardous materials on a regular basis.

Hazardous material, or HAZMAT, causes harm to health or shipboard conditions if used improperly, accidentally spilled or deliberately mixed. The material’s chemical characteristics, concentration, quantity or physical traits determine its hazardous category.

Every HAZMAT user needs to be familiar with the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) assigned to each item that contains the most current information from the manufacturer, including handling, precautions and clean-up procedures.

“Always have the same person that checked out the HAZMAT return it, and you must know exactly what kind of HAZMAT you’re returning,” said Chief Logistics Specialist William Taylor, HAZMAT environmental team leading chief petty officer. “The person checking it out may be the only one knowledgeable to handle the HAZMAT.”

Many types of HAZMAT can be checked out from ship’s HAZMAT Central, located in the starboard side of the hangar bay.

(more…)

Solar Panels Deliver New Energy To West Point’s Net Zero Initiative

Filed under Energy by jtozer on January 7, 2013 at 7:50 am {no comments}

The installation of solar panels on the roof of the Lichtenberg Tennis Center – 780 panels, to be exact – represents West Point‘s continuing efforts to achieve energy sustainability.

The installation of solar panels on top of the Lichtenberg Tennis Center has become a visible sign of progress in West Point’s Net Zero Energy goals. (Photo by Nicole Ciaramella, West Point DPW)

Since becoming a Net Zero Energy pilot installation last April, West Point has been making strides toward the ultimate goal of producing as much energy as it uses by 2020.

According to an environmental assessment for the U.S. Army Environmental Command and West Point Garrison, the installation currently generates less than .02 percent of the energy it consumes from renewable sources. Matt Talaber, Department of Public Works engineer and director, said the solar panels will be a step in the right direction.

“The solar panels are very visible and a very recognizable part of our renewable energy initiative that can immediately click with the general public,” Talaber said.

“It’s a positive image that shows West Point is interested in renewable energy and is working on its Net Zero energy goals.”

The work began Oct. 15 with minor roof repairs before the panels were attached to a metal rack system. When the wiring to the interior controls is completed, the photovoltaic technology will service approximately 50-60 percent of the building’s energy consumption annually.

The tennis center was an ideal location for the panels due to its southern exposure; lots of light and an uninterrupted rooftop, with no parking or other activity.

(more…)

‘BigBelly’ Devours Waste At Natick

Filed under Energy by jtozer on January 6, 2013 at 7:40 am {no comments}

Rich Valcourt checks on a “BigBelly” solar-powered waste disposal unit at Natick Soldier Systems Center, Mass. NSSC has 12 of the units positioned across the installation.

When it comes to devouring waste, the Natick Soldier Systems Center has found a hungry helper in the BigBelly Solar Intelligent Waste and Recycling Collection System.

Natick purchased 12 BigBelly units in August and distributed them around the 78-acre installation in October, to collect waste.

Ten of the self-sufficient units, which weigh 170 pounds and have 50-gallon waste bins each, are outside and powered by solar panels, compact waste independently and provide real-time data by satellite about their fill status. The other two, situated indoors, plug into electrical outlets.

The entire “smart” system is linked and can be monitored by desktop computer, allowing for efficient waste-removal operations.

“It tells me when it’s full, when it’s getting full, how many times it’s compacted,” said Rich Valcourt, an environmental engineer at Natick. “You save resources and time (and) dedicate your resources where they belong.”

When a unit goes yellow or red on his computer screen, Valcourt knows that its bin is either nearly or completely full. He then emails a crew to pick up waste just at that container.

“Time is everything. Time means money,” Valcourt explained. “Instead of spending (time) going around emptying all the containers on post, I can just tell them, ‘Go empty this one and this one.”’

In the past, crews operated with much less information.

(more…)

Saturday Space Sight: Ion Thruster Sets World Record

Filed under Photos, Space by jtozer on January 5, 2013 at 7:26 am {no comments}

While the Dawn spacecraft is visiting the asteroids Vesta and Ceres, NASA Glenn has been developing the next generation of ion thrusters for future missions. NASA’s Evolutionary Xenon Thruster (NEXT) Project has developed a 7-kilowatt ion thruster that can provide the capabilities needed in the future.

An ion thruster produces small levels of thrust relative to chemical thrusters, but does so at higher specific impulse (or higher exhaust velocities), which means that an ion thruster has a fuel efficiency of 10-12 times greater than a chemical thruster.

The higher the rocket’s specific impulse (fuel efficiency), the farther the spacecraft can go with a given amount of fuel.

Given that an ion thruster produces small levels of thrust relative to chemical thrusters, it needs to operate in excess of 10,000 hours to slowly accelerate the spacecraft to speeds necessary to reach the asteroid belt or beyond.

The NEXT ion thruster has been operated for over 43,000 hours, which for rocket scientists means that the thruster has processed over 770 kilograms of xenon propellant and can provide 30 million-newton-seconds of total impulse to the spacecraft. This demonstrated performance permits future science spacecraft to travel to varied destinations, such as extended tours of multi-asteroids, comets, and outer planets and their moons.

Image Credit: NASA

———-

Can You Program A Radio To Dominate A Spectrum?

Filed under Challenge by jtozer on January 4, 2013 at 7:15 am {no comments}

Well? Can you?

A new DARPA challenge is looking for innovative approaches to adaptive, software-based radio communications

Radios are used for a wide range of tasks, from the most mundane to the most critical of communications, from garage door openers to military operations.

As the use of wireless technology proliferates, radios and communication devices often compete with, interfere with, and disrupt the operations of other devices. DARPA seeks innovative approaches that ensure robust communications in such congested and contested environments.

The DARPA Spectrum Challenge is a competition for teams to create software-defined radio protocols that best use communication channels in the presence of other users and interfering signals.

Using a standardized radio hardware platform, the team that finds the best strategies for guaranteeing successful communication in the presence of other competing radios will win.

In addition to bragging rights for the winning teams, one team could win as much as $150,000.

(more…)

Free Search Engine Connects Classrooms with Science and Technology

Filed under Education & Culture by jtozer on January 3, 2013 at 7:19 am {no comments}

An educational search engine funded by the Office of Naval Research (ONR) has gone mobile with the release of an iPad app.

Gooru, a free search engine for learning that brings together science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) educational materials on the web-developed the Gooru Collections iPad app to bring thousands of assorted multimedia resources to teachers and students on the go.

Launched with initial investment from ONR, Gooru provides a one-stop shop for fifth- to 12th-graders and their teachers to discover and share high-quality videos, games, digital textbooks, quizzes and other interactive products related to STEM and eventually other subjects.

“ONR’s STEM efforts are looking for ways to inspire, engage and educate current and future STEM leaders,” said Cmdr. Joseph Cohn, ONR’s deputy director of research for STEM. “This technology promises to have a broad reach and would facilitate millions of students and teachers in developing a deeper understanding of a range of STEM disciplines.”

Last year, Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus announced plans to strengthen the service’s future workforce by doubling the investment in STEM education over the next five years. The secretary shared this vision at a conference sponsored by ONR, which coordinates the Navy’s STEM efforts and offers a collaborative website at STEM2Stern.org.

(more…)