tech talk

AUGUST 2007

Tiny Building Roving Robot Carries Sensors, Weapons

By Robert H. Williams

A multi-mission compact robot that is able to negotiate stairs and other obstacles has been configured especially for action in buildings and other confined spaces, according to Elbit Systems of Haifa, Israel.

The 25-pound robot may be outfitted with a variety of sensors, varying modules and payloads, the company says. It also was designed to carry a 9 mm Uzi and a grenade launcher. Called the Viper, the intelligent system, which possesses a 4-foot arm, measures 18 inches long, by 18 inches wide and 9 inches high.

It is operated by a control harness and helmet mounted display.

System Monitors Toxic Agents

The Guardian Blue Early Warning System, which monitors municipal water supplies for contaminants, has received certification from the Department of Homeland Security. Hatch Co. of Loveland, Colo., says the system can detect a full spectrum of lethal agents, including cyanide, pesticides, ricin and VX gas.

Guardian Blue is composed of an event monitor with agent library, water panel and total organic carbon analyzer. Also offered is an optional auto-sampler.

Enhanced Battle Dressing Perfected

H&H Associates, a company in Gloucester, Va. that specializes in first-aid products for the military, has developed a triple valve design dressing with a hydrogel adhesive that is designed specifically for sucking chest wounds. Called the Bolin Chest Seal, the polyurethane device is 6 inches in diameter and can be worn under body armor.

It was originated by a retired Navy corpsman who sought a better way to care for injured troops in combat. The dressing is aimed at both covering and stabilizing piercing chest injuries that are caused by small arms fire and shrapnel.

Non-Lethal Projectile Hurts, Then Stings

Law enforcement officers, guards and other security personnel have another non-lethal solution in their arsenal to stop bad guys quick. PepperBall Technologies Inc. of San Diego has put together a semi-automatic pepper ball gun, which is called the FlashLauncher, that also comes with a rechargeable, high utility flashlight.

The pepper balls — with an accurate range of 30 feet — pack a double whammy. They have a stinging kinetic impact and a super pepper irritant.

A company spokesman says this less-than-lethal weapon offers a longer range substitute for electrical stun guns and was designed for room entry, cell extractions and searches, traffic stops, fugitive surprise and other situations where more potent force is not required. A built-in laser pinpoints targets.

The device can fire up to five projectiles and can be operated with one hand.

The non-lethal weapon will be manufactured by Tippmann Sports of Fort Wayne, Ind.

Singapore Civil Servant Invents Casualty Evacuation Scooter

The Singapore Civil Defence Force has come up with an in-house solution to evacuating mass casualties in the event of a man-made or natural disaster.

Rather than having two first responders carry one litter, the Motorized Casualty Scooter allows one operator to transport two victims, according to its inventor, Jalil Montel, a member of the service.

The scooter uses an 800-watt battery-operated rechargeable motor. A fully charged scooter can cover 13 kilometers and can reach speeds of 15 kilometers per hour. A new set of batteries can be swapped out within two minutes, he said.

It is also fully collapsible so it can be stored in trucks or ambulances.

Heart Monitoring for Soldiers on the Move

Improved capacitive sensors that can be integrated with clothing — a chest belt or shirt — are providing accurate electrocardiogram measurements in a variety of circumstances. For example, the system can be incorporated on stretchers or gurneys to provide automatic ECG measurements.

The noninvasive system, which is a product of Quasar of San Diego, Calif., is being used as a portion of the “war fighter physiological status monitor” that has been integrated with the Army’s future force warrior uniform.

The company is working with Adidas to include the capacitive sensors in sports clothing.

Advanced Satellite Modem Fielded

Scientists at Fort Monmouth, N.J., are fielding a cheaper, more reliable and vastly more efficient single channel per carrier modem for military satellite communications. Tagged as the enhanced bandwidth efficient modem, it has a transmission rate of up to 155 Mbps. Existing modems broadcast at about 20 Mbps, say officials.

Additionally, the system costs about $9,000 which is about half the price tag of current modems. Johnny Ng, a project official, suggests the key advantage of EBEM is its ability “to squeeze more data into the same bandwidth, more traffic into each trunk.”

EBEM was conceived by the project manager, defense communications and Army transmission systems, which intends to have some 2,300 systems operating for Army and Navy users by the end of 2008.

Rapid Deployable Buoy Geared for Multiple Missions

A compact autonomous mooring buoy that can be equipped with a variety of sensor packages for military and scientific missions is being produced by Florida Atlantic University at Boca Raton, Fla., and Lockheed Martin Corp.

Among its many possible functions are submarine detection and location, weather and oceanographic measurement and communication and control of autonomous underwater vehicles.

Originally designed by university researchers and technicians from the Naval Sea Systems Command, the module can be deployed by aircraft, ships and submarines. It is capable of autonomous mooring in water depths of 30 to 650 feet and has much greater endurance than comparable systems.

Please email your comments to SMagnuson@ndia.org

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