Battle Extraction And Retrieval (BEAR) robot

For future battlefields, this conceptual robot and working prototypes has many possibilities for defense and the private sector. "BEAR robot carries injured soldiers to safety". In the private sector, for assisting the disabled and elderly would be a practical application of this idea. VECNA Technologies is the company researching BEAR.

Electromagnetic Propulsion using Microwaves

Imagine hovering vehicles that do not have wings. I just bumped across an posting on Slashdot "Thrust from Microwaves - The Relativity Drive" that mentions this. Roger Shawyer calls it emdrive and NASA and China are serioulsy looking into this for a future space propulsion system. The orignal NewScientist article "Relativity drive: The end of wings and wheels?" describes it in more detail and has an interesting conceptual picture of what may be possible.

Japanese WWII Sen Toku Secret Submarines

In August 2006 I saw a History Channel special on the secret Japanese WWII attack submarine called Sen Toku (secret attack submarine). Prior to seeing this documentary, I had never even heard about this huge submarine because it was intentionally kept a secret by both Japan and US governments. What surprised me is the size of the submarines (Sen Toku I-400 submarine class). Up until the 1960s, these were the largest and most sophisticated submarines built by man. I think to this day they are the only submarines capable of launching bombers. Each of these submarines carried 3 full size naval bombers and spare parts for a fourth.

Here's some additional info about the Sen Toku. Promare 2004 exploration, "Ambitious Ideas" Japan's Submarine Warfare".

Area 51 Recent Increased Activity

Activity has been increasing at the most famous secret US air base. I initially saw this at CNET "Are these planes flying at Area 51". Popular Science recently published an story discussing this, "The Top Secrect Warplanes of Area 51". There are some pretty cool pictures at the Popular Science site of these exotic aircraft.

Lockheed Martin 12-seat Supersonic Jet

Supersonic flight is not only for the military. Check out what Lockheed Martin has in conceptual stages, "Lockheed Martin 12-seat Supersonic Jet". This would allow flying from LA to New York in 2 hours at Mach 1.8. If they decide to build and sell it, we could be seeing these by 2012.

JAXA Supersonic Jet Testing Resumes

JAXA plans to resume its testing of supersonic jet designs in Sep/Oct 2006. "Japan to Resume Supersonic Jet Test" I wrote about this earlier in this blog. The new goal is produce a supersonic jet by 2012 that can fly from Tokyo to LA in about four hours.

China and Russia Plan Joint Mission to Mars

For space exploration, China and Russian are making plans to jointly go to Mars! (article) The space of the 20th century is back. Now it appears that USA, China, Russia and Japan are in this 3-way race. It was good for innovation in the 20th century so I would have to say it will be great for 21-century innovation this time around for the next 20-30 years. Assuming we do not destroy ourselves in some type of large global war.

First Petaflop Supercomputer

Japan is ready to unleash the world's first petaflop supercomputer. I just saw this on Slashdot posting which references the news release here.
This was all done with a $9million investment and approx a 4,000 processor system. Whoa! There may be some breakthroughs with this machine.

First Flying Car Accepting Pre-Orders

Well, at least I can say that you can now pre-order your own flying car. This is as per reported in this i4u article, "Get Ready For the Flying Car, Courtesy of Terrafugia". They plan on delivering these in 2009 so you have 3-years for planning purposes. You will need a pilot's license to fly.

Honda Fuel Efficient MicroJet Aircraft and Engines

Honda has been working on their jet aircraft engines for a while now. It just announced a jet engine in partnership with GE. Honda has been very hush about its plans but here are some facts and news from Honda.

Mobile Tactical High Energy Laser

The Mobile Tactical High Energy Laser (MTHEL) is a future weapons system that is designed to shoot down rockets and mortars to protect troops. Given current events, this system will definitely give our troops an edge in the battlefield. The conceptual pictures of it are pretty cool also.

Nanotube Supercapacitor Battery

What ever happened to all the breakthroughs in battery technology? Well, here is yet another nanotube based battery technology that may spell the end of the battery as we know it. "MIT research may spell end for the battery Supercapacitor could make electric car viable". The article states that in 5-10 years we may see these types of products.

Supersonic shape-shifting assassin

The Pentagon is continuing research and development into advanced unmanned attack flying machines. Check out this concept, "Pentagon developing supersonic shape-shifting assassin". Thisis aa plane that could loiter just outside enemy territory for more than a dozen hours and, on command, hurtle toward a target faster than the speed of sound. And then level it.

Rhino Linings Uses By U.S. Military

Rhino Linings and Line-X are being used by the U.S. Military to protect everything from Humvees, tanker trucks, buildings to body armor against explosions. "Bedliner companies start getting defensive". Here is another article mentioning the use of Rhino Linings, "U.S. Military Goes to War With the #1 Sprayed-on Liner, Rhino Linings(R)".

Steven Hawking says Humans Must Go To Space

In order to survive the next 50-100 years, humans must go to space and seek out new homes. "Hawking says humans must go into space to survive". This makes sense since we will either polute the Earth so that is becomes a dangerous place or we will find a way to destroy ourselves by nuclear, genetic, or some other man-made form of technology.

Finger Implant Provides EMF Sensory Perception

The merging of man and the machine is getting closer. For body-modification for new capabilities check out what this graduate student has done, "A Sixth Sense for a Wired World". Adding the device to your fingertip was a result of an accident however, it provided the student with a new perception, detection of electromagnetic fields in his fingertips! Pretty cool... just a few more years of research and who know what is possible.

Contact Lenses for Sports

Nike and Bausch & Lomb have designed contact lenses for athletes that improve your vision and contrast for tennis, football, soccer, golf. Read about it here. This is a positive innovation for athletes that do not require use of drugs.

Lightweight Personal Mono-Wing

For the Special Forces, check out this personal mono-wing which will allow elite special forces to fly up to 120-miles when dropped from high-altitude. "New Personal Mono-Wing". This is too cool and I am sure is quite a rush to use. Here's the article with a picture of it.

Wireless Camera Hunter

This is one cool device for hunting for hidden wireless cameras or snooping on someone's wireless camera emissions. The wireless camera hunter has a built-in 2.5" TFT display which is nice.

Universal Software Radio Peripheral

Imagine a radio device that could receive AM, FM, GPS, HDTV, Satellite and uses software to decode channels! Check out "GNU Radio Opens an Unseen World" which this exact device that you can buy for about $550 today at Ettus Research, LLC! Pretty cool stuff for the near future. Here's another article with a good circuit board graphic.