Crave

Image taken of a hotel from a distance in heavy haze sans SWIR (left) and with SWIR.

(Credit: SUI)

The next generation in night vision for the U.S. military may be something that is already a commercial success in such applications as noninvasive medical examinations and silicon wafer inspection.

DARPA is betting on an indium gallium arsenide crystal and shortwave infrared (SWIR) sensor technology developed by Sensors Unlimited (SUI) that works in a wavelength somewhere between the visible and thermal bands. SUI, a subsidiary of Goodrich, has signed a three-year contract with DARPA to develop prototypes of lightweight helmet- and vehicle-mounted cameras based on SWIR technology.

(Credit: SUI)

Incorporating advanced materials and circuitry, the cameras detect reflected light at wavelengths invisible both to the human eye and current night-vision technology. The cameras with a resolution of 640x512 pixels will weigh less than 10 grams, or 0.35 ounces, light enough to use on hand-launched unmanned air vehicles and other small conveyances. There are other cameras operating on SWIR wavelengths that are made of different materials, but they need to be mechanically cooled--and that adds weight.

SWIR cameras operate in starlight conditions, relying on illumination from "atmospheric night glow," a phenomenon created by hydroxyl ion emissions in the shortwave infrared portion of the spectrum, according to SUI. (Night sky radiance emits five to seven times more illumination than starlight.)

But it really pays off in target recognition. "Humans are very recognizable, with the typical difference being that all hair shows as white due to the lack of moisture in hair," the company says. "Conversely, skin shows darker, due to its high moisture content."

The writing is on the wall, but what does it say?

(Credit: DARPA)

Foreign language translation on the battlefield is a dangerous and expensive proposition, and a job the military wants to see automated.

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has awarded BBN Technologies a $5.67 million contract to produce a Multilingual Automatic Document Classification Analysis and Translation (MADCAT) prototype capable of quickly converting to English everything from a crumpled, handwritten note in Arabic to computer files in Pashto using a PDA or a laptop.

Seems like a bargain, considering translation services in Iraq, Afghanistan, and elsewhere are expected to cost the U.S. taxpayer $4.6 billion over the next five years, according to one estimate. And that's without factoring the human costs. Translators suffer one of the highest mortality rates of any occupation in Iraq.

(Credit: DARPA)

Soldiers overseas are bombarded with foreign language images in the form of road signs, print media, captured documents, and graffiti, any one of which could be of immediate importance. The way it stands now, much of this material is either ignored or analyzed too late to be of any use, according to DARPA.

If and when it pans out, MADCAT is expected to provide "relevant, distilled, actionable information" to commanders and troops on the ground by translating foreign language text images accurately and automatically without bothering with linguists and analysts, according to the contract specifications. During the MADCAT proposal process DARPA demanded bidders demonstrate a "revolutionary approach," one that will produce a new benchmark in language translation. Specifically excluded were "minor evolutionary" improvements or "narrow applications" to current technology.

BBN says it plans to pull it off by integrating "optical character recognition with state-of-the-art translation and distillation techniques," while developing "novel methods for processing handwritten text," according to its press release.

If it works, MADCAT should be a major feather in DARPA's hat. Imagine being able to read "Yankee Go Home" on walls from Baghdad to Bagram. Better yet, French menus will be a thing of the past. Why print them, if everyone can read them?

(Credit: P2i)

Imagine buying sneakers and cell phones waterproofed with the same stuff.

You may be able to do that soon with the development of something called Ion Mask, a cold plasma surface enhancement technology developed by the U.K.'s Defence Science and Technology Laboratory and the University of Durham now being marketed by spin-off Porton Plasma Innovations (P2i.)

When applied, the technology invisibly modifies the surface of products making them super oil and water repellant. How repellant? It's three times more effective than Teflon, according to P2i.

The treatment works by decreasing the surface energy of virtually any object with an ionized gas or "plasma" mere nanometers thick, according to P2i. In the case of cell phones, PDAs, and other electronics this invisible "enhancement" not only waterproofs the outside, but the insides as well; with no damage to precision components. Water bounces off treated surfaces "like beads of mercury" with no change to the look, feel, or performance, according to the company.

"Ion Mask is extremely effective against the problem of moisture ingress as it can be applied to the most intricate electronic objects without damaging the precious circuitry," said P2i's Ian Robins. "The process is particularly well suited to high value applications such as MP3 players, which are required to perform outdoors in all weather conditions, or other small, lightweight electronic items which may be inadvertently worn in the shower or while swimming."

The technology was originally developed by the British Ministry of Defence to protect soldiers from chemical and biological weapons. P2i and its investors at Circus Capital Technology expected it to revolutionize everything from water-repellent footwear to sportswear to medical disposables to the long awaited shower phone.

P2i has shown that it's not shy about licensing the technology. Check out Whizaway.com ; "The World's First Antibacterial and Hydrophobic Urine Director" designed for both disabled and active, outdoorsy women. Plasma enhancement insures that no "residual droplets of urine" are left on the device, so that it may be confidently stowed after use. Revolutionary indeed.

(Credit: Blackhawk Products Group)

Maybe bleeding to death is the last thing you think about in the morning as you pull on your pants, but it could happen.

That's why a Norfolk, VA based manufacturer of military and law enforcement equipment has developed a uniform with built-in tourniquets, which it says will save lives on the battlefield.

The Warrior Wear Integrated Tourniquet System by Blackhawk Products Group has eight tourniquets; four in the pants and four in the shirt (two in the short sleeve version), which may, in case of injury, be constricted immediately with one hand by the wearer, their buddy or a medic.

Military medics are leery of an over-reliance on tourniquets, because although they save lives in battle, many soldiers later require amputation. In 2002 the FDA approved a bandage developed from chitin, a natural polymer found in shrimp shells that could stanch bleeding at up to 300 milliliters per 30 seconds that was supposed to render the tourniquet obsolete. It was even safe for soldiers allergic to shrimp, but apparently it has yet to pan out.

Quick deployment of a tourniquet minimizes blood loss, the single cause of death from injuries sustained to the extremities among troops, according to studies.

"Sixty percent of preventable combat deaths are from extremity bleeding and 50-70% of all combat injuries are extremity wounds," explained Dr. Keith Rose who worked with Blackhawk R&D to develop the product. "The fact that you can always find the tourniquet with the Integrated Tourniquet system and the speed with which you can immediately apply it will dramatically impact not only loss of life but also the amount of time that it takes to recover from extreme blood loss injuries."

The uniform is designed to allow soldiers to train with the system over and over rather than having to replace each tourniquet after a single use. Priced around $200, machine washable.

(Credit: Check Mate Semen Detection Kit)

High-tech can protect soldiers in the field, but it hasn't been much use against that age-old threat on the home front; and that's Jody, the 4-F opportunist of yore, who's busy bird-doggin' Snuffy's wife while he's 7000 miles away dodging RPGs.

Time was, the cuckold only began to suspect something amiss when he arrived home to find an off brand butt in the car ashtray or a different flavor of beer in the fridge. No more. Here are a few suggestions on how to keep an eye on things while the cat's away.

The USB Key Snoop is an innocuous-looking keylogger device that plugs into any keyboard and stores more than "128,000 keystrokes including e-mail, chat, IM, internet addresses and more". Data is stored inside the device as the keys are typed, according to the company. To check on who's been surfing philanderers.com, simply type-in a password and the Key Snoop shows who's been where. There's no software to install, just plug the Key Snoop into the USB port, then replug the keyboard and it's ready to record.

Here's another approach: A miniature 16 channel, water resistant, covert GPS tracking system to attach to your honey's car. It's motion activated and includes integrated GPS and cellular antennas, plus software for fast downloading and a flash memory to back-up the evidence. "What time did you say you were at the Laundromat?"

Remember, what's good for the goose is good for the gander. Take precautions with this cigarette lighter-powered Anti GPS Tracking Device. Just plug it in and it's good-to-go. It knocks out GPS logging or GPS tracking systems that may be operating on your vehicle, making "it very hard for anyone to keep tabs on you", according to the manufacturer. It sells for under $100, but if it's a matter of principal you can build your own GPS jammer, here.

This service here is like having the NSA at your disposal. A Brit outfit called World Tracker reportedly uses cell tower data (or GPS, when available) to track the location of GSM cell phones and displays their location to within 150 feet on a Google Maps-based interface. The service hasn't reached the US yet and but it should work soon around Dependent housing in Germany. Upon activation, the cell phone owner receives a text message and is supposed to authorize the tracking, but there's got to be a way around that.

Finally, for $65 and change, "put an end to suspicions of infidelity and doubt with this Check Mate semen detection kit." It contains everything needed to detect semen on undergarments or clothing, for up to 2 years if "they haven't been washed" even if the stains are invisible. The test only takes five minutes, so they can't get far.

Please consult the post chaplain before deploying these assets.

(Credit: Corner Shot)

Here's a product that may solve a dilemma that has dogged combatants ever since man first launched a projectile in anger: How to look and shoot around corners without losing your face.

The Corner Shot consists of a segmented, assault rifle-type folding stock, pistol-grip contraption, onto which is attached a pistol of choice and a compact, detachable color video camera. A lateral left and right swinging hinge mechanism and a remote trigger control allow the user to drop the hammer on targets from behind the safety and comfort of any right-angled structure.

The system, especially designed for urban combat and police SWAT operations, was reportedly developed by two former IDF officers with funding by U.S. investors. A number of police departments have tested the equipment. The company, also called Corner Shot, is headquartered in Miami and has offices in Israel.

Today's combat situations in low-intensity conflicts involve fighting in urban terrain, which unnecessarily exposes security forces to the enemy, said Amos Golan, one of the inventors. "This Corner Shot removes the need for this initial exposure."

There must be a market for this because the Chinese are hot on Corner Shot's tail with their version, the HD66, a superior product, the PLA claims. For instance, "better man-machine interface, such as people can search the object in proper eye alignment with the Ocular displaying scope." This makes for "more combat concealment consideration than Cornershot's LCD display, which possibly exposes the shooter by the screen glisten."

Also available from Corner Shot, an assault rifle version that takes standard 5.56mm as well as a 40mm "personal" grenade launcher. Best of all, if for the name alone, is the disposable Corner Shot Panzerfaust 60mm, built in collaboration with Dynamit Nobel Defence of Germany.

The Corner Shot slogan is "Makes Tight Corners an Advantage," which beats "Why Use an $11, 1-Ounce Mirror, When You Can Lug an 8.5-pound, $5,000 Hunk of Gear that Needs Batteries?"

(Credit: Sonim Technologies )

The "world's toughest phone" will take on Europe, starting with Stockholm.

The new military-spec, Bluetooth, and push-to-talk GSM Sonim XP1 is engineered for outdoor sports enthusiasts and those who work in harsh environments, certified to withstand shock, water, wind, dust, dirt, and extreme temperatures, the U.S.-based mobile Sonim Technologies announced. And not that you'll need it, but there's also a three-year, unconditional warranty (PDF).

Yeah, we've heard all this before--how tough could it be? Well, the company is so confident that it's invited bloggers and journalists across Europe to "torture-test" the "indestructible" mobile phone and publicize the results on its campaign blog. You can go here to watch someone tee off on an XP1 with a 9-iron.

"The Sonim XP1 doesn't die when exposed to the elements. It can be dropped, kicked, tossed into a toolbox or backpack," Sonim CEO Bob Plaschke boasts. "If you're standing on a construction site with a welding tool in your hand, or are sitting in a catamaran with a hard wind in your face, you really don't need a fashion accessory or a multimedia monster. You need a dependable working tool like the new XP1."

The "world's toughest" tour will visit Örebro, Eskilstuna, Västerås, Norrköping, Jönköping, Göteborg, Halmstad, Helsingborg, Malmö and Uppsala before ending up back in Stockholm.

'Tis a proud day for Swedes. It was also announced today that a museum will be opened in Stockholm honoring the Swedish pop group ABBA, featuring interactive displays telling the band's story. Break out the Akvavit.

Remember when Farmer Brown would break out the 12-gauge loaded with rock salt to chase you out of his watermelon patch? Today he could take care of you and other varmints with this weaponized version of the self-stabilized unmanned mini-copter put out by Neural Robotics.

The AutoCopter uses patented "intelligent neural network-based flight control algorithms" for automated flight control, making it the easiest mini-unmanned helicopter to fly and the hardest to crash, according to an article in Defense Review.

Best of all, it's armed with the Auto Assault-12 Full-Auto Shotgun by Military Police Systems, an innovative double-ought dispenser that's pretty handy all on its own. Out of Piney Flats, Tenn., the AA-12 employs a system that reduces recoil by 90 percent, which explains why the helicopter doesn't go into an instant tailspin the second the gun is fired. Rate of fire is reportedly 300 rounds per minute out a 20-round drum.

That ought to keep you away from the sheep. Another aggie myth in the making.

(Credit: IDO Security)

When it comes to gentility and airline security, we may have something to learn from Nairobi International, where they have the decency, and the equipment, to allow you to keep your shoes on.

Nairobi joins Madrid, Prague, and Budapest in deploying the MagShoe, a "high-speed, shoes-on, portable footwear weapons detection system," at their respective airports. U.K. and U.S. airports may be next.

The MagShoe is a metal detector designed to test shoes and ankles in the ongoing fight against foot-borne threats. A passenger simply steps on what looks like a twin mud scraper/shoe buffer, and within an average of 1.2 seconds an audio-visual signal either alerts the operator to concealed metal or gives the all-clear.

Development of the device was initiated by the technical branch of the Israeli Security Agency in response to 9/11 and the Richard Reid "shoe bomber" incident, according to the manufacturer, IDO Security. In both cases the weapons were smuggled in shoes, and in both cases the terrorists went through an Arch Metal Detector (Magnetometer Gates) without being detected.

MagShoe is being evaluated by TSA for the Department of Homeland Security and is expected to receive the seal of approval soon, according to the company. But not in time for the holidays.