Industrial & Military

Modern Prosthesis Allows Natural Walking

“This is the first prosthetic study in history that shows a leg prosthesis under full neural modulation,” Hugh Herr says.Credits:Image: Courtesy of Hugh Herr and Hyungeun SongModern prosthetic limbs help people with amputations walk naturally but don't give full neural control. They use robotic sensors and pre-set algorithms to move.MIT researchers, with Brigham and...

Night Vision Goggles Gain Thermal Imaging with a Clip-on Module

The ClipIR-12 turns a Night Vision system into a thermal imagerThermoteknixNight vision goggles and thermal imaging scopes are valuable individually, but combining them offers the advantages of both. Thermoteknix has developed an attachment for those who only have night vision goggles, enabling thermal imaging with a simple click.Night vision technology has revolutionized military tactics...

DARPA Aims to Wirelessly Charge Drones Mid-Flight with Power-Beaming

The MQ9-Reaper – which uses an internal combustion engine currently – at this altitude pictured here simply illustrates the feat that Dr. Ifana Mahbub is trying to overcome with power-beaming technologyGeneral AtomicsDARPA has boosted funding for far-field wireless power transfer, or power-beaming, for in-flight drone charging. This eliminates the need for mission interruptions for...

Directed Energy Weapon Fires 13-Cent Shots Instead of Million-Dollar Missiles

The RFDEW costs 13 cents per shotGabriele MolinelliA new directed energy weapon is being introduced to strengthen British defense capabilities. Costing only 13 cents per shot, it is as effective but significantly cheaper than the multi-million dollar missiles it aims to replace.The Radio Frequency Directed Energy Weapon (RFDEW) is part of the British...

How to Identify between Product Designers and Industrial Designers

Credit: CanvasHave you ever wondered about the distinction between product designers and industrial designers? It's a common question in the design world, and the answer might surprise you. In simple terms, both roles involve creating and designing products, but there are key differences in their focus and the types of products they work on....

British Army Showcases its Deadliest Tank in Live Fire Drills

Challenger 3 trying out its new gun in GermanyCrown CopyrightThe British Army has deployed prototypes of its Challenger 3 main battle tank for its inaugural live-fire trials in Germany. Featuring an enhanced cannon, the upgraded tank boasts the capability to intercept and neutralize incoming anti-tank projectiles while in flight.Market as the UK's most formidable...

Northrop Grumman Unveils Manta Ray Underwater Glider

The Manta Ray prototypeNorthrop GrummanNorthrop Grumman unveils its inaugural prototype of the Manta Ray Uncrewed Underwater Vehicle (UUV), developed for DARPA. This large-scale submarine glider is engineered to conduct extensive undersea missions autonomously.Nature's Engineering InfluenceAfter millennia of grappling with engineering challenges, nature has amassed a remarkable repertoire of solutions, a fact acknowledged by human...

Declassified Video Shows DragonFire Laser Weapon in Action

DragonFire during January field tests in ScotlandCrown CopyrightRecently disclosed footage demonstrates the UK's £100 million (US$127 million) DragonFire laser weapon as it undergoes tests, destroying various targets such as drones and mortar rounds on test benches and in field scenarios.Although DragonFire has been in development since 2017, information regarding the 50-kW class laser has...

AI Predicts Real-Time Plasma Instabilities in Nuclear Fusion Reactor

Engineers Employ AI to Manage Fusion Power Integration into the Grid. Credit: Google DeepMindDeep within the confines of the tokamak, a toroidal chamber sculpted to embrace the marvels of nuclear fusion, hydrogen atoms collide with immense force, birthing a searing plasma hotter than the sun.Nuclear fusion is key to sustainable energy, leveraging hydrogen isotopes,...

New Thermal Scope Tracks Bullets Sans Tracers

Teledyne FLIR, a defense contractor, has introduced its latest thermal sniper scope capable of tracking its own bullets during both day and night operations, with a range of up to 2,200 meters (1.3 miles). Debuting at the annual SHOT Show in Las Vegas, the ThermoSight HISS-HD empowers snipers and machine gunners to engage distant...