Robotics
DARPA RACER fleet expands experimental phase
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency's (DARPA) Robotic Autonomy in Complex Environments with Resiliency (RACER) fleet has entered its next experimental phase. Experiment 1 was executed March-April 2022 on six courses of combat-relevant terrain. The teams completed over 40 autonomous... Read More »
Bill seeks to offer drone threat protections
U.S. Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) introduced a measure on Sept. 7 he said seeks to protect communities from drone threats. The Stopping Harmful Incidents to Enforce Lawful Drone Use (SHIELD-U) Act, S. 4801, authorizes counter-UAS (Unmanned Aircraft Systems) activities on and off commercial... Read More »
DHS S&T funds earmarked for AI software development
Volt Athletics, Inc., based in Seattle, Wash., has secured a $199,730 Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) award to develop its Artificial Intelligence (AI) software system. “DHS recognizes that wellness is a complex issue and is engaging the private... Read More »
DARPA details NOMARS program progression
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has advanced to the second phase of its No Manning Required Ship (NOMARS) program, selecting Serco Inc. for design elements. The NOMARS initiative targets building and demonstrating a new medium unmanned surface vessel (MUSV) capable of going... Read More »
Huntington Ingalls Industries issued $127M contract to aid DoD with new technology
The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) awarded a $127 million contract to defense, technologies, and shipbuilder company Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) to improve systems integration through research, development, testing, and evaluation efforts. Over five years, HII will work to improve the... Read More »
DARPA details initial OpFires flight test
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) recently detailed the successful execution of its first Operational Fires (OpFires) program flight test at White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico. The OpFires system accomplished all test objectives, including the initial use of a U.S.... Read More »
Northrop Grumman advancing high energy laser prototype
Northrop Grumman Corporation recently touted the completion of a preliminary design review the firm said would result in a high-energy laser prototype for the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD). In March 2021, Northrop Grumman secured a $72 million DoD pact via the High Energy Laser Scaling... Read More »
DHS S&T funds heat-related injuries prevention tech research
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) recently awarded a $161,000 grant to Kenzen, Inc., based in Kansas City, Mo., to develop wearable technology to prevent heat-related injuries. S&T’s Silicon Valley Innovation Program (SVIP) targeted... Read More »
Raytheon touts Valiant Shield 22 demonstration results
Aerospace and defense company Raytheon Technologies is touting the accomplishments of its subsidiary, Raytheon Intelligence & Space (RI&S), amid the recent Defense Department Valiant Shield 22 exercise. Authorities noted the demonstration successfully indicated the ability to collect data on a... Read More »
DARPA researchers unveil improvements to robotic system performance
At the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) Machine Common Sense (MCS) program, researchers last week offered demonstrations of improvements to robotic system performance, showcasing advancements in intuitive physics, intentional actors, and spatial navigation. Comparing the... Read More »
BAE Systems secures $7.8M AFRL contract for machine learning software
BAE Systems recently secured a $7.8 million Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) contract to develop Multi-Sensor Exploitation for Tactical Autonomy (META) program machine learning software. “With the addition of environmentally adaptive processing, this solution bridges a critical gap in... Read More »
DHS S&T aiding indoor mapping capability development
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) is funding the development of a cloud-based capability aiding digital indoor mapping capability. Collaboration with Waterloo, Ontario-based Mappedin Inc. yielded Mappedin Response, which enables first... Read More »
Lockheed Martin, Korea Aerospace Industries launch new partnership
Lockheed Martin and Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) recently announced their latest partnership agreement, focusing on future T-50 opportunities. The T-50 is a proven aircraft program designed to reduce the new pilots learning curve while aiding the process of pilots flying faster operational... Read More »
DHS awards vehicle alerting technology contract
Corner Alliance, Inc., has secured a $100,000 Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) contract award to aid first responder driver emergency alerts on roads. S&T is collaborating with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Integrated Public Alert... Read More »
Northrop Grumman details IVEWS technology progression
The U.S. Air Force awarded Northrop Grumman Corporation a contract to prepare the AN/ALQ-257 Integrated Viper Electronic Warfare Suite (IVEWS) for developmental testing and hardware qualification. IVEWS utilizes ultra-wideband architecture to provide instantaneous bandwidth needed to defeat... Read More »
Defense Department outlines progression of Project Pele initiative
The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) Strategic Capabilities Office (SCO) announce plans to build a safe-by-design nuclear microreactor through the Project Pele initiative. “Thanks to the tireless work of the contract teams, the valuable input from local stakeholders, and the talented and... Read More »
DARPA details HAWC flight test progression
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) recently detailed the second successful flight test of the Lockheed Martin Hypersonic Air-breathing Weapon Concept (HAWC). "This Lockheed Martin HAWC flight test successfully demonstrated a second design that will allow our warfighters to... Read More »
Lockheed Martin, Intel to aid DOD 5G initiative
Lockheed Martin and Intel Corporation recently announced the expansion of an ongoing strategic relationship to provide U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) 5G-enabled hardware and software solutions. The memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed late last year would enable faster and more decisive... Read More »
DARPA details completion of Underminer program
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) recently touted the completion of its Underminer program, which provides logistics support while delivering potential ongoing resupply as troops navigate a contested area. “The technologies demonstrated in the Underminer program offered... Read More »
Huntington Ingalls Industries to spearhead Navy’s SUUV initiative
The Navy has selected Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) to produce and test its REMUS 300 craft as the branch's next-generation small unmanned underwater vehicle (SUUV) program of record. “HII is proud of our longstanding partnership with the U.S. Navy and now, to lead in this important... Read More »
Lockheed Martin secures government 5G communications pact
Lockheed Martin has secured a Prototype Project Agreement (PPA) to create a 5G communications network infrastructure testbed for expeditionary operations experimentation slated to aid two military entities. The $19.3 million Lockheed Martin pact with the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense... Read More »
DARPA to aid addressing microelectronics advancement challenges
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) recently announced that it is participating in an initiative to address microelectronics advancement challenges. DARPA personnel have detailed the Joint University Microelectronics Program 2.0 (JUMP 2.0), described as a long-term university... Read More »
U.S. Senate passes bill to improve federal workforce’s understanding of AI
Bipartisan legislation authored by U.S. Sens. Gary Peters (D-MI) and Rob Portman (R-OH) aimed at improving the federal workforce’s understanding of artificial intelligence (AI) passed the U.S. Senate on Monday. The bill, Artificial Intelligence Training for the Acquisition Workforce Act, would... Read More »
Artificial intelligence bills included in FY 2022 National Defense Authorization Act
U.S. Sens. Rob Portman (R-OH) and Martin Heinrich (D-NM), co-founders of the Senate Artificial Intelligence Caucus, said two of their bipartisan bills addressing Artificial Intelligence and the U.S. government have passed as part of the FY 2022 National Defense Authorization Act. The bills, the... Read More »
DHS S&T awards funds for aviation self-screening prototype
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) Screening at Speed Program announced Tuesday it had awarded more than $2.5 million to Vanderlande Industries to develop a passenger self-screening concept design and prototype to streamline TSA PreCheck... Read More »
DHS S&T exploring situational awareness of small unmanned aircraft
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) has earmarked $500,000 to a San Diego, Calif.-based firm to test small unmanned aircraft system (sUAS) settings. Officials said Planck Aerosystems would provide further testing and deployment of sUAS in Customs... Read More »DHS S&T exploring autonomous ocean surveillance technology
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) announced this week that it has partnered with several entities to evaluate the use of autonomous surface and underwater ocean surveillance technology. The agency has teamed up with the University of Southern... Read More »
Two small businesses awarded DHS funding for machine learning technologies
Physical Sciences Inc. (PSI), based in Andover, Mass., and Alakai Defense Systems, Inc. (Alakai), based in Largo, Fla., recently announced that they have secured funding from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program. The businesses, which... Read More »
Senate legislation would create scholarships to encourage AI students to join federal workforce
A bill introduced by U.S. Sens. Gary Peters (D-MI) and John Thune (R-SD) this week seeks to maintain the U.S. government’s edge in the modern world by establishing scholarships to encourage students enrolled in artificial intelligence programs to join the federal workforce. Endorsed by the... Read More »
NIST links public safety radios, broadband network
National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) engineers are espousing the benefits of a low-cost computer system connecting older public safety radios with the latest wireless communications networks. “This NIST project aims to develop a prototype infrastructure that could be used by... Read More »
DIA outlines latest MARS initiative breakthrough
Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) officials recently outlined the latest breakthrough regarding its Machine-assisted Analytic Rapid-repository System (MARS) initiative, touting efforts to provide strategic advantages. The MARS initiative would aid military planners, senior leaders, and... Read More »
Northrup Gruman, Lockheed Martin secure DOD agreements for Next Generation Interceptor program
Northrop Grumman Systems and Lockheed Martin have been awarded Department of Defense (DOD) contracts supporting the Next Generation Interceptor (NGI) program. NGI is an advanced interceptor designed to protect against intercontinental ballistic missile attacks. The DOD would ensure the overall... Read More »
DOD advances nuclear microreactor prototype design process
Department of Defense (DOD) officials have proceeded with transportable advanced nuclear microreactor prototype design initiatives through two contract options. Teams led by BWXT Advanced Technologies, LLC, of Lynchburg, Va., and X-energy, LLC, of Greenbelt, Md., were selected from a preliminary... Read More »
TSA aids Connecticut drone detection testing
U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) personnel recently joined Connecticut and New York law enforcement and police departments in aiding the Connecticut State Police (CSP) with drone detection testing. “If you want to fully neutralize the threat from a drone, you need to locate... Read More »