DARPA's Newest Workhorse Home - Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor UAV madness as Darpa’s UAVForge competition intensifies UAV’s are everywhere these days. It seems I can’t even walk out of my house without running into a quad-rotor of some sort. Even local law enforcement agencies are getting into the act with their recent acquisition of military surplus. For those of you who love them, Darpa (Defense Research Products Agency) has teamed up with SSC Atlantic (Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center) to give us average ‘Joes’ the opportunity to design the next generation of Unmanned Ariel Vehicles. Called "UAVForge," (started at the end of 2011) contest is heating up in competition with both the crazy and conventional designs. The contest consists of 6 ‘milestones’ each group or person must go through before the winner is chosen. ● Milestone 1: Contestants create a concept video to show of the design to which it’s then voted on to which the winners proceed to the next level. ● Milestone 2: Proof of flight. ● Milestone 3: This is where things get riveting as contestants compete with a live video demonstration.
New Study Shows Humans Are on Autopilot Nearly Half the Time A new study by Daniel Gilbert (who wrote a great book called ' Stumbling on Happiness ') and Matthew Killingsworth, confirms something we've all suspected: most of us are 'mentally checked out' a good portion of the time. It turns out that just under half the time, 46.9% to be exact, people are doing what's called 'mind wandering'. They are not focused on the outside world or the task at hand, they are looking into their own thoughts. The study was designed to find out what kind of activities people did throughout a day, and which made them happiest. Researchers found that people were at their happiest when making love, exercising, or engaging in conversation. People reported that they mind wandered no less than 30% of the time, during everything except love making. Whether people are mind wandering turns out to be a better predictor of happiness than the actual activies people are engaged in. The Farb study shows there is a whole other way of experiencing experience.
US' 'Black budget' revealed! $51 Billion spent on covert projects Washington: That the US spends billions of dollars on its military is no secret. But how much is being spend on which project, well, that's a closely guarded secret, something that the Pentagon calls "classified programs". These 'programs' are secrets, guarded through the use of obscure code words, but now details have emerged of how much money is being spent on the U.S. government’s most secret military projects. According to wired.com this year alone, the US military’s black budget appears to be a little over $51 billion, down from the $56 billion which held steady for the last two years, not including inflation. Projects with code names like the Navy’s “RETRACT JUNIPER” and “LINK PLUMERIA” are simple enough to find in the research development, testing and evaluation budget (.pdf). These projects are also where to go when searching for what’s getting cut. Most other projects saw lesser cuts, however, and others like “RETRACT MAPLE” even saw minor gains. There’s also a slight problem.
Drones could be tested near border Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION By: Brian Bennett Posted: 03/10/2012 1:00 AM | Comments: WASHINGTON -- The American government has taken the first step toward allowing drones to fly alongside passenger airplanes in the U.S., possibly near the Canadian border south of Winnipeg. As required by a law signed by U.S. In a notice to be published Friday, the FAA is seeking advice on how to select six places around the country that will be used for testing how to safely fly drones in the same area as traditional planes. Possible testing sites include airspace along the Canadian border near the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks and airspace near New Mexico State University among other areas already used for testing drones. The University of North Dakota was the first school to offer a four-year degree in piloting unmanned aircraft and is close to Grand Forks Air Force Base that is home to Air Force Global Hawk and Predator drones, as well as two Predators flown by U.S.
Drone Aircraft Move Closer to Flying in U.S. Civilian Airspace Drone aircraft moved closer to taking flight in U.S. civilian airspace as regulators issued a call for advice on establishing test sites. The Federal Aviation Administration said it wants drone makers and the public to comment on where to locate proving grounds and their management, according to a filing yesterday in the U.S. Federal Register’s Public Inspection Desk. “Unmanned aircraft can help us meet a number of challenges, from spotting wildfires to assessing natural disasters,” Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said in a statement. “These test sites will help us ensure that our high safety standards are maintained as the use of these aircraft becomes more widespread.” Drones have been used to kill terrorists and assist U.S. troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, and manufacturers have pushed the government to allow greater domestic use for law enforcement and businesses. Similar language was contained in a law passed last month authorizing spending at the FAA.
DARPA Eyes Mobile Apps To Fly Drones - Government - Mobile & Wireless The agency seeks smartphone app developers to add advanced capabilities to sensors for military aircraft and vehicles. The Department of Defense (DOD) is looking to mobile application development to improve its development of sensors for drones and other military surveillance, reconnaissance, and intelligence vehicles. The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), the DOD's research arm, is seeking smartphone app developers for its Adaptable Sensor System (ADAPT) program, according to a statement. The program uses a commercial development model to facilitate rapid delivery and configuration of sensor systems, which typically take three to eight years to develop, the agency said. DARPA wants to tap innovations in mobile app development to add advanced capabilities to sensors. Researchers already have proven they can fly a miniature UAV with a smartphone app. [DARPA considers everything that might improve defense--including YouTube. More Insights
Overseas Civilian Contractors