MEMS-based smart fuses could guarantee desired explosions

While we certainly hope the average (read: not GI) jane / joe isn't overly concerned about the rate at which homegrown explosions detonate as desired, we understand the Army's need to have more faith in their own munitions. Reportedly, a new "smart fuse" conjured up at Georgia Tech could soon prevent bombs from experiencing fuse failure by using "semiconductor fabrication equipment to make hundreds of ultra-high precision detonators on a wafer at the same time." In addition to cutting down on the use of toxic heavy metals and increasing the safety of weapon production, the intelligent MEMS fuse will supposedly "incorporate built-in arm and fail-safe mechanisms that virtually guarantee that munitions go off when they should, every time." Weapons that fire when needed -- now there's a concept.

[Image courtesy of Rich's Incredible Pyro]

[Flashpoint @ Dec 23rd 2007 12:25PM]

A great Christmastime news story...

now I can rest assured that humanity will continue to kill with the utmost efficiency in new and exciting ways.

No longer will people we shoot at get "lucky" because the fuse delayed.

Now, we've got new and improved semiconductor potential fuses !!!

[Abbie Gonzalez @ Dec 23rd 2007 1:27PM]

Not all of humanity . Just Americans getting those out to get us.
I welcome any advance in the US military's technology to get the enemy. Probably because I am American. :)

[Luis @ Dec 23rd 2007 2:18PM]

Thank you!! you so beat me to the exact same comment.

Yay for humanities efficiency at causing our fellow man's death.

@Abbie Gonzalez: What an ignorant comment.. I'm American as well, but no ammount of misguided patriotic rhetoric will make me celebrate the death of another, or the tools that make that death come easier and more efficiently. The enemy ey? What the f@ck happened to "Peace on Earth, Good will towards men" Sigh...

[Wwhat @ Dec 23rd 2007 5:17PM]

Don't forget that for the whitehouse most americans ARE the enemy.

[Abbie Gonzalez @ Dec 23rd 2007 5:28PM]

@Luis
I am not as foolish to think that we should be blindly celebrating the death of our enemies. Even Nazi Germany should be looked back on soberly as a reminder of judgement to us if we tried the same.

That said, the statement was written sarcastically. I don't agree with our foreign policy right now. The "police the world" mentality is rubbish and brings us enemies and never-ending series of wars. Wars against people who are fighting for their freedom as we fought for ours. And they may not understand that we want to "help" them. They may not see our aid. They see our presence as a military force and occupation. Not as big-brother knows best.
We can work on changing it, but for now, as far as protecting the citizens go (US citizens in my case), you use all available means to protect them. Even if it means the efficient, swift death of an aggressor. "Containment" and "non-lethal" ways of stopping an aggressor bent on revenge or hatred is not going to help.
"Peace on earth, good will toward men" did not stop hitler, or the Japanese in WW2. It made Neville look like a fool and Pearl Harbor like a conspiracy.

[flYY @ Dec 23rd 2007 12:27PM]

MEMS became self-aware at 2:14am EDT August 29, 2008

[Reader @ Dec 23rd 2007 3:19PM]

MEMS blew itself up at 2:15am EDT August 29, 2008 and was no more.

[Bipedal @ Dec 23rd 2007 12:44PM]

I, for one, accept our new semiconductor fabricated, explosive overlords.

[Ricardo @ Dec 23rd 2007 12:53PM]

Why make life better when you can just end it?

[Copperhead @ Dec 23rd 2007 2:15PM]

Actually this will make some peoples lives better.

One of the problem of area denial weaponry that uses clusters of bomblets is guaranteeing that they all detonate. This tech could do that, meaning that after the conflict is over, the inhabitants don't need to worry about unexploded munitions.

[Luis @ Dec 23rd 2007 2:22PM]

Wow.. yea.. you are right on that one.. a small silver lining to an otherwise depressing news story on Christmas eve eve.

[John @ Dec 23rd 2007 2:37PM]

It cuts down on the use of toxic heavy metals. So it's a "green" bomb.

Now I've seen everything.

[strider_mt2k @ Dec 23rd 2007 2:48PM]

Unfortunately the word they chose for a detonation key was "teh".

"We'll meet again, don't know where don't know when..."

[john @ Dec 23rd 2007 3:00PM]

Two stories in a row involving Georgia Tech?

It is indeed Christmas.

[slojohn @ Dec 23rd 2007 4:09PM]

this could potentially save thousands of american lives, by killing our enemy better, thus leaving less to kill our soldiers

[Wwhat @ Dec 23rd 2007 5:19PM]

Sux if you are canadian, now the american friendly fire will be even more 'effective'.

[Abbie Gonzalez @ Dec 23rd 2007 5:24PM]

@Luis
I am not as foolish to think that we should be blindly celebrating the death of our enemies. Even Nazi Germany should be looked back on soberly as a reminder of judgement to us if we tried the same.

That said, the statement was written sarcastically. I don't agree with our foreign policy right now. The "police the world" mentality is rubbish and brings us enemies and never-ending series of wars. Wars against people who are fighting for their freedom as we fought for ours. And they may not understand that we want to "help" them. They may not see our aid. They see our presence as a military force and occupation. Not as big-brother knows best.
We can work on changing it, but for now, as far as protecting the citizens go (US citizens in my case), you use all available means to protect them. Even if it means the efficient, swift death of an aggressor. "Containment" and "non-lethal" ways of stopping an aggressor bent on revenge or hatred is not going to help.
"Peace on earth, good will toward men" did not stop hitler, or the Japanese in WW2. It made Neville look like a fool and Pearl Harbor like a conspiracy.

[onetruebill @ Dec 23rd 2007 8:01PM]

For a small fee I will guarantee explosions.
"no new technology needed"