Defense Secretary Ash Carter observes static displays of advanced weapons and unmanned aerial systems during a visit to Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., Nov. 17, 2016. DoD photo by Army Sgt. Amber I. Smith
Defense Secretary Ash Carter receives a briefing on route clearance and robot operations during an exercise at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., Nov. 2, 2016. DoD photo by Army Sgt. Amber I. Smith
An F-35 Lightning II flies over the USS Zumwalt in the Chesapeake Bay in Maryland, Oct. 17, 2016. The aircraft is assigned to the F-35 Lightning II Pax River Integrated Test Force. The Zumwalt, the world’s largest and most technologically advanced surface combatant, is the lead ship of a class of next-generation multi-mission destroyers. Navy photo by Andy Wolfe
Defense Secretary Ash Carter addresses the Defense Science Board conference in Arlington, Va., Sept. 20, 2016. DoD photo by Air Force Tech. Sgt. Brigitte N. Brantley
Defense Secretary Ash Carter speaks with innovation leaders during a visit to Capital Factory, Austin, Texas, Sept. 14, 2016. DoD photo by Army Sgt. Amber I. Smith
Event attendees watch Defense Secretary Ash Carter deliver remarks during the TechCrunch Disrupt innovation and technology conference in San Francisco, Sept. 13, 2016. DoD photo by Army Sgt. Amber I. Smith
Marine Corps Pfc. Edgar Langle operates a newly developed Modular Advanced Armed Robotic System in a field environment at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., July 8, 2016. The Marine Corps Warfighting Laboratory built the system to assist Marines in carrying gear and clearing buildings. Lance Cpl. Julien Rodarte
Dr. Tom McKenna, a program officer with the Office of Naval Research, talks to Dr. Janine Davidson, undersecretary of the Navy, about the Shipboard Autonomous Firefighting Robot during a Technology Innovation Day event at the Pentagon, June 24, 2016. Navy photo by John F. Williams
Air Force Staff Sgt. Christina Swope, part of a team conducting a public health investigation of the Zika virus disease among Exercise New Horizons personnel, prepares urine samples for testing in Rio San Juan, Dominican Republic, June 7, 2016. Swope is a U.S. Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine lab technician. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Chenzira Mallory
Defense Secretary Ash Carter speaks with an exhibitor at the Navy League's Sea-Air-Space Exposition at National Harbor, Md., May 17, 2016. Carter delivered remarked at the event. DoD photo by Air Force Senior Master Sgt. Adrian Cadiz
Students use a glove box to play an educational game as part of a Defense Department display at the USA Science and Engineering Festival in Washington, D.C., April 15, 2016. DoD photo by EJ Hersom
Defense Secretary Ash Carter reviews the principles of physics with cadets during his visit to the U.S. Military Academy in West Point, N.Y., March 23, 2016. DoD photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Tim D. Godbee
Defense Secretary Ash Carter, center, tours a Boeing KC-46 aircraft at the Boeing facilities in Seattle, March 3, 2016. DoD photo by Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Tim D. Godbee
A robot awaits competition in the robotics challenge through the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, known as DARPA, in Pomona, Calif., June 5-6, 2015. The event requires robots to attempt a circuit of physical tasks, with degraded communications between robots and operators. Twenty-four of the top robotics organizations in the world will compete for $3.5 million in prizes.
Marine Gunnery Sgt. Joseph Perara guides a robot during the Department of Defense Lab Day at the Pentagon, May 14, 2015. Perara is assigned to the Marine Warfighting Laboratory. DoD photo by EJ Hersom
The hand of scientist Dr. Peter Matic rests on a skull as he explains how the Naval Research Laboratory is studying how to develop helmets for U.S. Marines that will improve protection from brain injuries. The demonstration was part of the preparation for the Defense Department's first Lab Day exhibition, May 14, 2015. DoD photo by EJ Hersom
Army Lt. Col. Robert Carter shows the Compensatory Reserve Index that could lower casualties on the battlefield. Carter is the task area manager for Tactical Combat Casualty Care Research at the U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research, Joint Base San Antonio, Texas. He spoke during Lab Day at the Pentagon, May 14, 2015. U.S. Army photo by David Vergun
An International Security Assistance Force soldier on patrol in a remote forward location in Afghanistan uses a secure mobile handheld device. Photo courtesy of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency
Edgewood Chemical Biological Center engineering technician Brad Ruprecht used a multi-material 3D printer to produce numerous self-sealing suction cup prototypes. ECBC's advanced design and rapid prototyping capabilities provided workable samples right off printer. Army photo by Doug Lafon
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency’s Legged Squad Support System will relieve troops of their 100-pound equipment load, take voice commands and maneuver around obstacles, in addition to numerous other tasks in the field. DARPA photo
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency’s Legged Squad Support System will relieve troops of their 100-pound equipment load, take voice commands and maneuver around obstacles, in addition to numerous other tasks in the field. DARPA photo
More than 40 vendors and representatives from five universities demonstrated various technologies during the 2012 Robotics Rodeo at Fort Benning, Ga., The Rodeo's third installment, a 10-day event that ended June 29, 2012, featured nearly 75 different technologies in all. U.S. Army photo by Ashley Cross
Synchronized Fielding is the outcome of the Network Integration Evaluations and Agile Process, the Army's new approach to rapidly developing, acquiring and fielding integrated mission command capabilities. Pictured are networked vehicles at the Network Integration Evaluation 12.2 at Fort Bliss, Texas, and White Sands Missile Range, N.M. U.S. Army photo by Claire Schwerin
Units in garrison can now continually connect their battle command suites to the network. U.S. Army photo
A new solar panel field on Fort Hood, Texas, which was turned on March 27, 2012, consists of 3,000 photovoltaic panels mounted to a steel frame that span across a four-acre site that will generate one million kilowatt-hours annually. U.S. Army photo by Christine Luciano
A Gray Eagle unmanned aircraft makes its way down an airfield on Camp Taji, Iraq, before a surveillance mission in the Baghdad area. F Co., "FENIX," will become an official part of the Combat Aviation Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, in the spring, adding its capabilities to the strength of the CAB. U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Roland Hale
Advanced Extremely High Frequency Secure, Mobile, Anti-Jam, Reliable, Tactical-Terminals, or SMART-T, are shown here at the new Centralized Training and Fielding Facility, in Largo, Fla., Nov. 9, 2011. SMART-T allows soldiers to extend the range of their network so that communications cannot be jammed, detected or intercepted. U.S. Army photo by Amy Walker
A soldier assigned to the 2nd Brigade, 1st Armored Division demonstrates the Army's new, satellite-based communications network as part of a field test on the White Sands Missile Range, N.M., Nov. 1, 2011. U.S. Army photo by Claire Schwerin
Under high magnification, this 2002 scanning electron micrograph shows spores from a strain of anthrax. Photo courtesy of The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
The Army's futuristic-looking 2.5 pound XM25 Individual Airburst Weapon System is in development as a means to defeat defilade targets, May 23, 2008. U.S. Army photo
U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Laurel Smith, an aerospace propulsion journeyman with the 4th Component Maintenance Squadron, works on an aircraft engine Dec. 16, 2010, at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, N.C. U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Tony R. Tolley