(video via BAE Systems)

Today's modern wars are fought with a severe technology disparity between the factions. One side is making improvised explosive devices while the other uses augmented reality to call in air strikes. Despite the differences, the modern countries continue to innovate against a possible war with its hi-tech peers. BAE Systems has just released its "Adaptiv" vehicle camouflage that mimics the heat signatures in its surroundings.

The Adaptiv technology consists of hexagonal "pixels." An onboard camera samples the background and displays the IR-image on the pixels accordingly. The process happens fast enough for a moving vehicle to not even make an impression under IR surveillance. The pixels can also be arranged to make the vehicle look like another. In the video example, a tank is make to look like a Jeep.  The pixels could also be used to display words or a message, if need be.

The project is funded by the Swedish Defense Materiel Administration, who wanted a focus on IR cloaking. However, the BAE engineers combined the Adaptiv pixels with other electro-magnetic spectrum cloaking devices to provide further stealth coverage.

BAE plans on adapting the technology for warships and buildings. For this application, larger panels will be used.

I would like to see similar technology for use on soldiers. Seeing soldiers get taken out by UAVs at night, via infrared cameras, is disturbing. Again, the battles are usually one sided anyway. I have never heard of a drone on drone battle in any war.

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A team from the University of Southampton has used 3D printing techniques to build a working UAV from the ground up in just under a week. The team, led by Andy Keane and Jim Scanlan, demonstrated their effort at an air strip just a little down the road from Stonehenge. The 1.5 meter wing span, ultra-low-drag, aircraft successfully flew showing it is possible to build for each individual application.

At 100 micrometers (4 thousands) at a time, a laser traces out the 2D cross section of the design. The laser can "print" with many different types of materials, from polyamide plastic to stainless steel or titanium powder. When forming parts with the metallic powder, the team stated that it is as strong as if the parts were machined from raw/bare metal. To create a stronger formed part, an electron laser sintering is used, instead of the conventional laser, to melt the powder completely.

Of course, the electronics in the craft are not printed. At least not yet. http://www.element14.com/community/community/doittogetherblog/blog/2011/07/14/grow-electronics-by-the-molecule

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Serious threat of space debris on the space station
In the past three years the International Space Station (ISS) had to change its orbit five time to avoid orbiting "junk" from ripping right through the station vital and fragile shell. In fact on June 28th astronauts took shelter in a heavily fortified section of the space station as a object was detected only fourteen hours before an expected impact. Although it passed one thousand feet from the outside of the station, the countless objects remain a continuous threat.

Russia has blown up many off their satellites which happen to fall within the ISS orbit band, placing thousands of objects in direct line for impact. In 2007 China demonstrated their capabilities to destroy satellites with the take down of one of their own. Thousands of additional objects have been added to the frey. In 2009 an American and a Russian satellite collided producing thousands more for the orbiting path. In other words, the ISS is under constant danger.

With an estimated 1 in 8 chance of an impact, the ISS may end up becoming a short lived destination for space travelers. There are some thin kevlar based protective shields placed over critical components, they will not be able to protect against larger objects. Perhaps collecting space garbage is imperative.

Http://www.element14.com/community/message/19899#19899

Though it may all come too late. The ISS is scheduled to be abandoned in 2020.

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KLM Passenger Jet via KLM

The oldest airline with the same name since it started, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines founded in the Netherlands in 1919, is showing off the first use of a biofuel blend on a commercial passenger aircraft. 170 passengers on a Boeing 737-800 flew from Amsterdam to Paris on June 22, 2011. KLM managing director Camiel Eurlings spoke about the use of the fuel, "In November 2009 we demonstrated that it was technically possible to fly on biokerosene. Now, a year and a half after our first demonstration flight on Camelina, a new phase has been entered around the world, that of certification. Authorisation will soon be granted to operate commercial flights on biofuel. I am especially proud to announce that KLM will take this substantial step in September."

Biokerosene if a 50/50 blend of kerosene and biofuel made from used cooking oil produced by Dynamic Fuels, a Tyson Foods and Syntroleum Corporation partnership. The Biokerosene met the same specifications of standard kerosene, and required no modification to the aircraft. The end result was a substantial reduction of CO2 emissions and a minimum negative impact on biodiversity and the food supply due to the fuel source.

KLM's consortium that is seeking out and developing sustainable aviation biofuel, SkyNRG, supplied the fuel. After seeking the advice of an independent sustainability board consisting of Solidaridad, Copernicus Institute of the University of Utrecht, and the World Wide Fund for Nature, they were given the OK on the mix of Biokerosene.

KLM admits that the price of the Biokerosene is very high. To meet true sustainability, the price of the fuel has to "come down substantially and permanently." However, KLM's demonstration is an indicator of big changes on the way. No wonder KLM has been a sector leader of the Dow Jones Sustainability Index for the past six years.

Perhaps they should look into algae, as in the recent U.S. Navy's recent biofuel helicopter test fight.

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The Robotic Refueling Mission via NASA

Despite the retiring of the space shuttle program, NASA sent up a space craft refueling and repairing platform. The Robotic Refueling Mission (RRM) sent on the Atlantis space shuttle on July 8th, 2011 and installed in 15 minutes on the International Space Station. The RRM features a twin-armed robot dubbed "Dextre." The Dextre, Special Purpose Dexterous Manipulator, will be controlled by a person located on Earth. Using Dextre will make repairs and refueling to cost far lower than with an astronaut on a spacewalk. Overall, the RRM with Dextre will prolong space travel for crafts already orbiting the planet.

Another use of the RRM comes in repairing satellites, where there are already hundreds out of commission at the moment. This is a service never before attempted. NASA's Satellite Servicing Capabilities Officer Benjamin Reed said, "We anticipate [the RRM] enabling future missions, future capabilities, for the international aerospace community."

We're going to make this data available to everybody," said RRM project manager at the Satellite Servicing Capabilities Office Frank Cepollina. "That is, all commercial industry that may want to leap off and start their own ventures."

Heavy-Lift rocket concept via NASA

On related space news, the U.S. Congress demands to know why a new heavy lifting rocket is not completed by now. With the cancellation of some space programs by the Obama administration has led to many delays. Since the retirement of the shuttle program a new type of space craft is needed to get satellites, equipment, and people out of the atmosphere. The Space Launch System heavy-lift rocket is what President Obama is now backing as a contender for a new vehicle. However, current plans will not have a manned mission aboard the new craft until 2020. Which could be in line with President Obama's wishes for a manned mission to an asteroid by 2025 and to Mars by 2035.

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