Vulcan Engine

Aviation Week has a showcase about DARPA’s new Vulcan engine, a “constant volume combustion” (CVC) engine capable of powering a hypersonic vehicle from rest to Mach 4-plus. That would be useful both for space launchers and for fast travel (NY to Tokyo in two hours? Oh yeah).

The flight demonstrator looks pretty badass too, so that’s a plus.

Making Oil?

So much about the Peak Oil crisis: a company in Silicon Valley is using genetically-modified bacteria to convert biowaste into a sludge similar to crude oil.

And, for once, it doesn’t look like a snake oil scheme (‘scuse the pun).

Fusion Power

The latest prototype of the concept fusion powerplant invented by the late physicist Robert Bussard (yes, the one who also invented the concept of the fusion ramship) is beginning test runs. I hope it works.

City in a Building

The concept has been seen often in science-fiction under various names such as arcology, hive city, or oasis tower. Here’s an actual proposal for a two-mile-high version.

Wearable Motorcycle

This will not end well.

Another Walking Robot

The blog engine is working again, so here’s a link to a pretty cool walking robot.

Jet-Powered Bicycle

A Darwin Award in the makings: check out this jet-powered 75 MPH bicycle. It’s a technology demonstrator for a guy that sells miniature pulse jet engines for R/C models.

Micro-Weapons

Popular Mechanics showcases four small weapons: the Spike missile, the SDB (Small Diameter Bomb), the MALD and the Lightweight 25.

The idea is to be able to strike more accurately and carry more ammo. Finesse over brute force.

Building Excesses

Check out this page on Dubai’s architecture. Very impressive. Even more impressive is the fact that it’s been paid for by us, the oil consumers, designed by North American and European firms, and built through the sweat and labor of tens of thousands of African and Asian workers. Make of that what you will.

Pilot's Wings

This is wicked cool: a small wireless camera that fits into an R/C plane, and matching VR goggles. I’ve blogged about a similar homemade set-up a while back, but this is a commercial product. $550 and you can strap it to any remote vehicle you have, plane, car, even model trains.

Seeing the video and watching the plane fly in formation with another model, I could only imagine the mock dogfights you can do with this…

Littoral Combat Ship

Take a look at the U.S.S. Independence, the Navy’s newest ship. It’s fast, versatile (check out the modular equipment bays!) and its triple hull design allows it to sail close to shore. Very futuristic appearance, too — I could swear I had ships like these in Sid Meir’s Alpha Centauri game.

Computerized Combat Glove

No, it’s not a powerfist-like weapon. Rather, it’s a computer interface built into a combat glove, to let soldiers use sensors and display without having to deal with a keyboard or mouse.

A Brief History of the Exoskeleton

Popular Science has done a feature on the history of the exoskeleton concept.

It’s strange that they didn’t include Starship Troopers, though. I think powered armors were also featured in Lensman, but I’m not 100% sure.

DO WANT

Check out the Atom. It’s a kit car that weds an ultra-light tube frame with an Honda Civic turbocompressed engine. 500 kg mass + 300 horsepowers = a lot of zoom.

Of course, you have to go to a racetrack to be able to really feel the car’s performances, and forget about using it in the Canadian winters, but… it looks nimble just sitting there.

Spider Bot, Spider Bot...

“Because the World Needs More Giant Robots,” a young inventor is trying to build a life-sized spider-like giant robot. The prototype does walk, but it’s only a scale model (check out the video!).

Bring Out Yer Dead...

Leave it to the Japanese to invent a body scooping robot. Alright, technically it’s a rescue robot, but come on — do you want to be rescued by something that’s going to eat you alive?

(All jokes aside, it’s actually a pretty neat concept.)

F-117A Stealth Fighter is Retiring

Here’s an article on the retirement of the F-117A Stealth Fighter. I can’t believe it’s been so long — to me, the “secret fighter!” model ads in my 1985 FineScale Modeler are sharp and vivid, and I still remember playing Microprose’s F-117A on my old PC in the mid-90s.

[sigh]

Walking Robot New Record

A team just broke the existing distance record for a walking robot design, making their bot walk nine kilometers around a track without falling. The secret is to mimick animal walk and use gravity and elasticity to help move the legs about without spending too much energy.

(You know what would be funny? All these efforts spent on making walking robots, and someone suddenly invents a cheap anti-grav suspensor/impeller.)

Pneumatic Exoskeleton

Here’s another exoskeleton design, this one powered by a compressed air cylinder strapped to the back of the wearer. Apparently the weight will go down when they switch to a CO2-powered design.

Robotics as New Varsity Sport

Yep, it’s happening right now. Teams, fans, the whole thing.

They’re running after balls now, but how long until they give them flamethrowers?

Targeting Lasers

Here’s a quick video of a special ops firefight in Iraq. It’s all filmed in low light, and you can actually see the lasers because of all the dust in the air.

Artificial Muscles

Here’s another cool tech that could be useful to make giant robots, cyborgs and killer machines: self-healing artificial muscles.

(Though strictly speaking, they’re not self-healing, just damage mitigating.)

Mind-Reading Computers

When reading articles like this one, I can’t help but think that if mecha are to happen at all, they will be thought-controlled — and indeed, that might be where the humanoid form comes in.

The mecha of Project 7, my “hard science mecha” world, are indeed equipped with brain scanners. Those of Project 8, though, have a “traditional” cockpit with joysticks and foot pedals, being a more classic anime mecha story.

Doggy Ball Cannon

I wish I had though of this myself. Laika would love to have a toy like that.

More BigDog

Here’s a new video of the BigDog robot in action. It’s starting to get really agile, though they are going to have to get rid of that engine sound before they can field it.

And also, give it a head. Please. It’s disturbing to watch a headless metal mule moving about.

The Black Bird

Here’s a short but very cool article about the SR-71 spy plane, by one of the guys that got to fly the aircraft.

Shotgun Tank Rounds

The concept isn’t new, but the XM1028 120mm Canister Tank Cartridge is. Check out the dispersion pattern — one tank can mow down scores of infantry if they attack in the open.

It’s also useful if we’re attacked by hordes of aliens or giant bugs, I guess.

Paging Team America, Paging...

Check out the paint job on the new Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV) prototype.

Might want to tone it down a bit, guys.

Luke Arm

Here’s an amazing video of Dean Kamen’s prosthetic arm. I think I blogged about it here before, but it’s the first time I see the thing move so well.

And for the mecha lovers here, note the alternate waldo controls demonstrated at the 3:53 mark.

SQuba Submarine Car

Some people have too much time on their hands. Still, bonus points for using the Bond theme in the demo!

Thunderbirds are Go!

Well, it sure seems that way.

Though I’d love to visit Australia without having to spend more than five hours aboard the plane. The 13-15 hours flights to India and Japan were just painful…

Rocket Train

Say what you will, but a train with an afterburner is pretty badass.

(Via BoingBoing)

Armed Robots

Wired has a gallery of the Navy’s armed robots. Not quite Terminator-level, but you’re just as dead if shot by an overgrown golf cart with an attitude and the firepower to back it up.

Les Lampes Radio

It’s good to know that if we ever forget how to make semiconductors, there’s a guy in France who hand-makes vacuum tubes for his own scratchbuild radio sets.

Real craftsmanship in action, a delight to watch…

Laser Humvee

Slowly, the future is catching up to its fictional self. And I’m pleased to see that the real-world Humvee-mounted laser looks very much like the laser systems that I advised artists to put in the various DP9 games’ vehicles.

Tourniquets

Remember the second part of Forever War, when the infantry fighting suits had built-in amputation/sealing systems to salvage as much of a wounded soldier as possible in the vacuum of space?

This new system isn’t as bloody, but it should save a lot of lives. And, like many useful tools, it’s very simple.

Motorhead Messiah

Sounds like a cool title for a game, but it’s actually an article onextreme car modding — this guy hacks Hummers to make them run on biodiesel and overpowered electric motors. Why settle for a Prius?

Return of the Airship?

Every time I turn around on the Web, I see another article on airships (dirigibles, if you prefer).

Does that mean that we’re soon going to live into an alternate history? (i.e., if you see blimps in the sky, you’ve entered a parallel universe. See any genre fiction.)

Please Be Nice to the Poor Robot

Here are two examples of robots that, though not 100% life-like in appearance, have motions and behaviors that we closely associate with living beings. I don’t know about you, but I feel a strange kind of empathy toward what are essentially piles of circuitry and motors.

Su-30MK Video Gallery

Whoa, this is like watching a live action SV-51 from Macross Zero!

Sarco Exoskeleton

It’s so cool that we’re going to see Starship Troopers in real life before long! Check out the video at the link and be amazed. About 30 seconds before the end, they show a mockup of the full suit with armor and equipment.

All we’re missing is the power system and the jump jets, and we’re good to go.

Lockheed's Secret Airship

The Skunk Works strike again, this time with an experimental blimp. Notice the four “lifter” fans underneath — if the enveloppe doesn’t have to supply all the lift, perhaps the craft is more resistant to wind?

They Must Have Made 100 Only

Amazon’s new Kindle e-reader sold out in 5.5 hours. I’m sure it helped that it was showcased on the main entry page, but given its poor stats, they can’t have made that many. Someone please tell me there aren’t that many gullible “early adopters” out there?

(The e-reader is really poor: black&white screen, no PDF support, limited wireless, no opportunity to download books you already legally own, DRM, etc. And at $400, better not drop in the bathtub or forget it on the train.)

Awkward...

A Chinese submarine popped up in middle of a U.S. Navy exercise not long ago. It shows once again that the most advanced war toys are useless if you’re not actually paying attention and taking things seriously.

Nice of the Chinese government to be so sporting, though. “Yeah, by the way, we’re so the next bad guy on your list. Just FYI, so that you can prepare and make it an interesting match.”

The Slashdot crowd is having fun with it, at any rate.

Bolo! Part 2

Here are more pictures of the Black Knight automated tank. It’s kinda cute — it looks like a squashed Abraham.

Bolo!

The Bolo is finally here, and only seven years late (the fictional timeline says that the Mark I was fielded in 2000).

Check out the Black Knight combat vehicle. It’s actually pretty darn close to the description of the Mark I, too, albeit it’s a bit smaller.

Hopefully the engineers can work out a way to give it the Bolo mentality as well before they start upgrading the armament too much!

ATHLETE Wheeled Walker

Gizmodo has an article and link to a video of ATHLETE, a robotic walker/wheel platform that can also use its legs as arms. Check out the attachments that can be powered by the motorized wheels!

Sub-Launched Helicopter

From the Popular Science Blog, a short article on a submarine-launched helicopter for covert insertions and retrievals.

Urban Challenge Winners

The winners have finally been announced at the DARPA Urban Challenge Web site:

1st Place - Tartan Racing, Pittsburgh, PA
2nd Place - Stanford Racing Team, Stanford, CA
3rd Place - Victor Tango, Blacksburg, VA

Pretty incredible that they had to compare timing to declare a winner (half the teams met all objectives) when only two-three years ago they couldn’t even get the cars to follow a route in a desert!

UPDATE: Here’s an overview of the day’s events.

DARPA Urban Challenge

Last year’s desert rally was fun, but this year, the robot cars will have to tackle something much worse — city traffic (simulated, of course).

The “race” (since it’s more a series of timed missions) will take place tomorrow morning. You can follow the competition on the Grand Challenge Web site.

Micro R/C Transforming Bot

I linked to a larger version before, but this one is much smaller and cuter.

Robots Vs. Pirates

Popular Mechanics has an article on robotic Navy boats that could be used for pirate hunting. I’m all for it!

Making Them Small These Days

I came across this the other day. It’s another of the new “micro-jet” designs that are starting to come to market to replace the existing business jets. Smaller means lower costs across the board, making them more accessible.

Ribbit!

Yep, it’s a frog-like robot. Japanese, like you have to ask.

Land Warrior Follow-up

WIRED has an article on the current Land Warrior equipment trials in Iraq. Summary: still far from Starship Troopers, but definitely improving.

Foam Armor

That staple of cyberpunk games and novels, foam impact armor, is now available. How long until we see the high-speed skateboard couriers of Snow Crash?

Secondary Movement System

For those who think that putting wheels and threads on the feet of mecha was dumb in Heavy Gear, all I can say is nya nya. The proof’s in the pudding, as they say.

MiG-35 OLS

I had taken note of this but had forgotten to blog about it, so here it is: pictures of the OLS system on the MiG-35. OLS stands for Optical Location System — basically a set of visual and IR sensors for the plane.

The blog where this was found, incidentally, is a pretty cool source for aircraft pictures and videos, especially for modern Russian planes.

Secret Projects

Secret Projects is a neat Web site/forum that I came across today. It’s a place to discuss unbuilt aircraft projects & aviation technology in general (though they also have sub-forums for space, naval and land projects, too).

There’s plenty of pictures and data, so if you love “what if?” technology and alternate history, check it out at the link above.

Combat Bots

Popular Mechanics showcases three robots from the Darpatech 2007 conference. The robots are coming to the battlefield!

Let’s just hope we keep a deactivation code hidden somewhere. You know, just in case…

Living the Future - Autodocs

It gets better and better every day! The autodoc, long a staple of science-fiction stories (especially Larry Niven’s Known Space setting), is now being tested for the US military. It still requires a human surgeon in the loop, but most of the “mundane” tasks are automated.

Not only is this going to be extremely useful for the army, but it will also be a boon for remote communities and bases. And, of course, we’ll need a system like this on future starships (assuming they carry actual human bodies and not just uploaded minds).

Living the Future

Does this remind you of anything?

The picture on top is from the article, the picture below is a screenshot from Madox-01, a 1987 animated short movie. It only took twenty years…

Flying Car

I figure everyone must have seen this by now, but it’s still way cool.

Wonder what the range is, though. That thing has to eat fuel at a ferocious rate.

Humdinga

The Humdinga is a Hummer-like 4×4 that’s also a speedboat. Not sure if it’s really tough enough for military use, but it would be perfect for scouting.

Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?

I don’t know, but part of the novel is coming to life (so to speak).

iPhone Round-Up

Boing Boing does a round-up of iPod news and first impressions. I’m going to wait a bit myself — not only do I want Apple to shake the early bugs out before I give them any money, I don’t think having constant Web access in my pocket is going to be very healthy. I spend enough time online as it is…

Kit Up

You really can find blogs about everything these days. Kit Up is a blog about military equipment — specifically, stuff that soldiers regularly use but wasn’t issued to them.

Hyperblimp

A hyperblimp is a dirigible built in a streamlined shape rather than the usual “fat sausage” shape. This is made possible by lightweight modern materials, which require less helium to lift.

The result? Check out the video in the link.

Tool Manuals

I forgot to blog this when I came across the page yesterday. Here are Navy technical manuals in PDF format — this is the stuff they use to teach new soldiers. All free, since it’s already been paid for by the U.S. taxpayers! [grin]

Very neat stuff. If at some point I find a decent tablet PC, I‘d have lots of reading to do.

DefenseTech's "Best of"

The military/science blog Defense Tech has a list of 50 favorite posts of 2006. Excellent place to keep up with the latest developments — I try to visit once a week.

UPDATE: Here’s another set of 50 posts, this time the most read in 2006 (I think).