NASA Wind Tunnel Tests Lockheed Martin’s X-Plane Design for a Quieter Supersonic Jet

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Supersonic passenger airplanes are another step closer to reality as NASA and Lockheed Martin begin the first high-speed wind tunnel tests for the Quiet Supersonic Technology (QueSST) X-plane preliminary design at NASA’s Glenn Research Center in Cleveland.

The agency is testing a nine percent scale model of Lockheed Martin’s X-plane design in Glenn’s 8’ x 6’ Supersonic Wind Tunnel. During the next eight weeks, engineers will expose the model to wind speeds ranging from approximately 150 to 950 mph (Mach 0.3 to Mach 1.6) to understand the aerodynamics of the X-plane design as well as aspects of the propulsion system. NASA expects the QueSST X-plane to pave the way for supersonic flight over land in the not too distant future.

“We’ll be measuring the lift, drag and side forces on the model at different angles to verify that it performs as expected,” said aerospace engineer Ray Castner, who leads propulsion testing for NASA’s QueSST effort. “We also want make sure the air flows smoothly into the engine under all operating conditions.”

NASA Wind Tunnel Tests Lockheed Martin’s X-Plane Design for a Quieter Supersonic Jet
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Reposted via Next Big Future

China has new infantry fighting vehicle

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CJDBY website has an image showing a next-generation Chinese infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) featuring a new front-engined hull and a possible unmanned turret.

If it is a new prototype IFV, it could be a successor to the China North Industries Corporation's (NORINCO's) ZBD-04 or later ZDB-04A, which are in service with the Ground Forces of China's People's Liberation Army (PLA).

The new IFV hull features six running wheels and an apparent forward mounted engine, but differs in a number of ways, including a less sloped forward glacis.

Posted on 8 February on the Chinese CJDBY website, the image shows the prototype IFV features an aft-mounted gun turret, compared to the ZBD-04's manned mid-hull mounted turret, which is equipped with a 100 mm rifled main gun and a 30 mm cannon.

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umrzec: http://ift.tt/2lLk9tw

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umrzec:

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Reposted via Ixnay-on-the-Oddk

foxxis: Tide pool at Azenhas do Mar by paricomninos

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foxxis:

Tide pool at Azenhas do Mar by paricomninos

Reposted via F&O Forgotten Nobility

RRAM/PCM-Based Brain-Gates

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An international team from Milan Polytechnic, Italy and Micron, Boise Idaho provided an update on the their work using RRAMs for unsupervised learning. Unsupervised learning is the ability to learn and recognize random patterns. Supervised learning would be learning the images of say traffic lights and hand writing.

The team offered solutions for spike-time dependent plasticity (STDP) and spike-rate dependent plasticity (SRDP) with a RRAM at the core of each circuit solution.

Late last year at IEDM-2016 Toshiba with Hynix announced plans for a 4Gbit MRAM and even although perhaps 3 to 4 years away from a commercial and proven product, plus the progress made by other MRAM vendors must be read as danger signals for PCM/RRAM product developers. It may be time for the PCM and RRAM communities to look at brain-gates as a potentially more rewarding future direction where their technologies will be able to offer unique features. Brain-gate: a circuit or array where the unique features of PCM/RRAM are integrated with conventional silicon.

Source: Ron Neale

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Could robotics enable a complete or near complete takeover with minimal response ?

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In World War 2, French armored doctrine used tanks to support slow moving infantry armies. While generally armed with heavier guns and having thicker armor than most German tanks, they were also slower, rarely had radios to enable them to fight effectively in groups or to exploit rapidly changing battlefield conditions, and often had ineffectual one man turrets. In contrast, the Germans viewed their tanks as primary fighting vehicles that would spearhead deep attacks into the enemy’s rear as part of a combined arms team. The Germans consequently put a premium on balancing armor, firepower, maneuverability, and reliability. They also equipped most combat vehicles with radios to facilitate both effective maneuvering of large formations and rapid coordination with air assets

Most militaries continue to look at warbots as support weapons that can conduct reconnaissance, selective strike, and logistical or other supporting tasks.

However, robots can be faster and cheaper than humans. Robots could enable entirely new attack and defense capabilities by fully utilizing robotic, sensors, AI and other capabilities.

There is a discussion of Blitzkrieg, Soviet Deep Battle and NATO Air land battle.

* use massively superior mobility and heavily concentrated forces to breakthrough the line of battle and collapsing their front into several pockets of resistances.
* envelop larger, less mobile infantry forces and isolate them from each other
* The concept of bypassing enemy strong point to attack the weaker spot and left the those strong point enveloped was used perhaps for as early as the Mongol Invasion of Europe

Stealth Robotic Deep Strike

The Mongols were the earliest user of Blitzkrieg as a concept. The art of war is always about how to defeat the enemy without actually having them fight back.

Currently the concepts are to use robots for surveillance or as extra weapons for planes and soldiers.

A revolution would be where robotics were able to perform superior infiltration and sabotage or misdirection. This would not just be in the small scale but enabling a complete takeover without a response from the opponent.

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Three Ways to Get Your Head Around CRISPR-Cas9

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• Radiolab released an updated CRISPR episode due to the incredible amount of change that has occurred since their first episode on topic two years ago.

• Dana Waring Bateman of Harvard University’s Personal Genetic Education Project has released a Crispr lesson for high-school teachers. The content focuses ont he history of gene editing, findings and moral questions. The lesson plans and power point slides are free. [Via The Wall Street Journal ]

• Genspace in NYC is offering a 4 session CRISPR-Cas9 class for $400. This course has prerequisites of lab experience or taking other Genspace biotech/biohacker courses.

 

Reposted via adafruit industries blog

Skateboarders hope Dallas pulls a 180 on public skate parks as city lags behind suburbs, peers in amenities

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Reposted via Dallas City Hall News

Cratlach Mews House / DUA