Important Innovations Collection

Gravity Industries' Jet Pack Targets Ship Hijackers                                        Source:  Gravity Industries Jet Suit New Aviation Technology on the Cutting Edge of Saving Lives Seizing control back of a hijacked ship on the high seas is one of the most difficult challenges for global special forces in the fight against terrorism.  They either try rappelling down a rope from a hovering helicopter or use ladders on small boats at night to climb onboard.  Many times, these strategies loose the element of surprise.  Now from a former Royal Marine, Richard Browning who is the CEO of the UK's Gravity Industries, there is a third solution to taking control back from hijackers of a ship on the high seas.  Browning's Jet Suits have the potential to revolutionize counter-terrorism on land and sea. They have just been demonstrated to work by the Dut...

Sixth Generation Fighter Jets                          Source:  Lockheed Martin Fighter Jet Concept What Technologies and Innovations Will They Contain? Russia and China power plays against their neighbors are driving escalating spending on the next generation - generation 6 - of fighter jets by major powers around the world. The US, UK, Germany, Japan and France are all working on the development of sixth generation fighter jets that will likely go into service by the mid-2030's.  What innovations and new technologies will define them, including for the US Air Force's secret new fighter jet?  Engineers from Raytheon's Intelligence and Space group, in a recent webinar, offered some expert perspectives. Autonomous and Loaded with Artificial Intelligence The Raytheon engineers believe the aircraft will have self-landing systems to autonomously land on aircraft carriers and elsewhere in challenging co...

Royal British Navy & Jet Pack Assault Teams                                                                 Source:  Gravity Industries UK's Gravity Industries One of the most intriguing forms of new travel and personal air mobility is jetpacks.  A leading player in the field, Gravity Industries of the UK, has successfully developed jetpacks for individual enthusiasts and adventurers.  The company is now working with the British Royal Navy to adapt the jetpacks for military use.  Specifically, to develop new jet pack military assault teams. The US Navy is also working with the UK company to examine the possibilities of using jetpacks for Navy Seals.  Clearly, the utilization of jetpacks is rapidly expanding. Targeted Goals and Expanding into Emergency Services The intent ...

Interceptor to Neutralize Hypersonic Nuclear Warheads                                       Source:  DARPA Glide Breaker DARPA's Glide Breaker Project The US Defense Department's Advanced Research Projects Agency DARPA is developing a hypersonic interceptor vehicle, which experts are calling a potential gamechanger.  It's called Glide Breaker. The vehicle would travel at extremely high, hypersonic speeds while flying at such a low altitude that it evades early warning radar systems that track ballistic missiles.  The technology is extraordinary and straight out of science fiction. Twenty Times The Speed of Sound The technology is designed to take down a nuclear warhead travelling at 20 times the speed of sound.  It's the equivalent of hitting a bullet with a bullet.  And, the enemy "bullet" is capable of evasive maneuvers.  The interceptor, tha...

DARPA Field Tests Autonomous Force Source:  DARPA Field Test of OFFSET Drones & Robots For Dense Urban Warfare The US Defense Department's Advanced Research Projects Agency, DARPA, is testing the use of swarming drones and ground robots to assist infantry troops as they work dense urban areas on military missions.  DARPA envisions using as many as 250 swarming drones and robots at a time  to defeat the enemy with overwhelming technological advantage.  DARPA is testing out the autonomous team including an ambition test in Georgia this summer.  https://youtu.be/ruWC10AW87E (DARPA test video). Urban Missions The program is called OFFSET or OFFensive Swarm-Enabled Tactics (OFFSET) program.  In Georgia, the swarming drones and robots on the ground worked a two block area.  Their goal was to find, surround and secure a mock city building. Ongoing Tests This is another part of DARPA's ongoing efforts to combine humans with adv...

Faster than a Helicopter, More Nimble than a Plane Courtesy:  Bell Bell's V-280 Valor The V-280 Valor is a new, tiltrotor aircraft.  It reaches top speeds of more than 320 mph.  It flies 2 times faster and 2 times farther than a helicopter.  And, its far more nimble than an airplane.  It's cited as one of 2018's top 100 innovations.  It's being developed for the US military. Tiltrotor Its propellers can pivot from horizontal to vertical.  That allows it takeoff and land vertically. This innovative aircraft promises to be a smaller, more nimble and lighter version of the V-22 Osprey tiltrotor.  It is being developed by Bell and has tested successfully. For more news on transportation innovation, check out my Amazon Authors Page  amazon.com/author/ekane Ed Kane