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Navy test-fires weaponized railgun with explosive results (video)

Daniel Cooper — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 12:46:00 EST

You're about to watch a test firing of BAE's experimental railgun demonstrating why the technology isn't science fiction anymore. Load an aluminum projectile into the 12-meter barrel and one million amps will hypersonically propel it toward the target. The conflagration you'll witness is due to the metal slug burning off in the charged air. In April, General Atomics will supply its own prototype so the military can identify which one is closer to making its way aboard the battleships of the 2020's. Anyway, now you can go watch the video fully aware of what's going on, try not to sit there with your mouth open.

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Navy test-fires weaponized railgun with explosive results (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 29 Feb 2012 12:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Oxford researchers show off autonomous Wildcat vehicle, no GPS required

Donald Melanson — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 22:52:00 EST

BAE Systems has spent years developing an autonomous vehicle based on the rather menacing Bowler Wildcat, but it recently turned the project over to Oxford University, which is now showing off some of the improvements that its researchers have made. Chief among those are a new array of sensors adorning the vehicle, which promise to let it more accurately map out its surroundings and navigate without relying on GPS -- that not only includes monitoring the road (or lack of road, as the case may be), but keeping an eye on traffic patterns and changing conditions, and watching for pedestrians and other obstacles. That's the same basic idea seen from the likes of Google's self-driving cars, of course, although we're pretty sure this could drive over one of those if it wanted to. Head on past the break for some videos showing off the vehicle's capabilities, and hit the source link below for a few more.

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Oxford researchers show off autonomous Wildcat vehicle, no GPS required originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 10 Oct 2011 22:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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BAE's infrared invisibility cloak makes tanks cold as ice, warm as cows

Daniel Cooper — Mon, 05 Sep 2011 16:12:00 EST

Warfare's constantly evolving. Daylight battles became late-night duels, and pre-noon skirmishes shifted to sundown slaughters -- some might say we're just getting lazy, but either way, thermal imaging now plays quite the vital role. Now BAE and the FMV -- Sweden's equivalent to DARPA -- have a way to mask the heat signature of heavy machinery. Adaptiv is a wall of 14 centimeter panels that monitor the ambient heat and match it, so it can't be picked out from the background radiation. The tech can also be used to replicate the profiles of other things -- you know, like a spotted calf or a Fiat 500. BAE believes the tech is scaleable for buildings and warships, the only downside being that all future commanders will have to make sure their operations are finished before dawn. Wouldn't want your soldiers to see that five o'clock (AM) shadow, now would we?

[Thanks, Rob]

BAE's infrared invisibility cloak makes tanks cold as ice, warm as cows originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 05 Sep 2011 16:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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BAE Systems develops e-ink camo for tanks and war zone e-readers

Joseph L. Flatley — Fri, 14 Jan 2011 10:39:00 EST

BAE Systems, long known for its wargadgets that blind and obfuscate, has recently announced that it is developing an e-ink camouflage system that displays images on the side of a vehicle which reflect the environment -- and which change in real time. This is well-suited for areas such as those found in Afghanistan, where terrain can vary from plain ol' desert beige to a lively and vibrant green, and -- provided it doesn't break down in the desert sand -- probably seems a lot more convincing than paint on metal. (We also wonder if this technology will work on cocktail dresses.) The company hopes to have a prototype within four years, while for our part we hope to have our troops out of the region in much less time than that.

BAE Systems develops e-ink camo for tanks and war zone e-readers originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 14 Jan 2011 10:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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BAE's lasers blind high seas pirates, have no effect on Ice Pirates

Joseph L. Flatley — Tue, 11 Jan 2011 16:30:00 EST

BAE Systems has had its hands in some pretty crazy research in the past, from Bug Bots to invisibility cloak development and more. But as this next item has implications for our planned dystopian gadget community on the high seas (think Waterworld-meets-The Engadget Show), we took notice tout de suite. Being marketed as a non-lethal deterrent to pirates, the heart of the ship-based system is a Nd:YAG laser that can be used to warn off attackers over half a mile away -- and disorient them at closer ranges. "The effect is similar to when a fighter pilot attacks from the direction of the sun," said BAE's Roy Evans. "The glare from the laser is intense enough to make it impossible to aim weapons like AK47s or RPGs, but doesn't have a permanent effect." Wild, huh? Check out the PR after the break for the complete low-down.

Continue reading BAE's lasers blind high seas pirates, have no effect on Ice Pirates

BAE's lasers blind high seas pirates, have no effect on Ice Pirates originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 11 Jan 2011 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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DARPA awards BAE $8.4 million for BLADE wireless jamming initiative

Christopher Trout — Thu, 06 Jan 2011 15:36:00 EST

DARPA's new BLADE initiative doesn't involve a blood sucking Wesley Snipes in a black leather trench coat, but we still think it's pretty awesome. This BLADE stands for Behavioral Learning for Adaptive Electronic Warfare, and is focused on developing a system of algorithms that will automatically jam threatening wireless communications on the battlefield. DARPA gave $8.4 million to BAE Systems to implement the project, which will detect, analyze, and counter wireless communications, without human involvement. BLADE would also allow troops to overcome enemy counter-jamming measures and prevent the use of remotely controlled IEDs. The system is broken up into three central components: detection and characterization, jam waveform optimization, and battle damage assessment. DARPA expects BLADE software to be easily integrated into existing electronic warfare equipment, and should be ready for use in 2012 -- still no word on a comeback for Mr. Snipes.

DARPA awards BAE $8.4 million for BLADE wireless jamming initiative originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 06 Jan 2011 15:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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UK defense firm pumps data through solid submarine walls

Sean Hollister — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 22:51:00 EST

Wireless power may still be on the drawing board, but wireless data is here today, and a UK defense contractor has figured out a way to pipe the latter through several inches of steel. Using a pair of piezoelectric transducers on either side of a watertight submarine compartment, BAE's "Through Hull Data Link" sends and receives an acoustic wave capable of 15MHz data rates, enough to transmit video by essentially hammering ever-so-slightly on the walls. BAE impressed submarine commanders by streaming Das Boot right through their three-inch hulls, and while metadrama is obviously the killer app here, the company claims it will also save millions by replacing the worrisome wiring that's physically routed via holes in a submarine's frame. See the company's full US patent application at our more coverage link.

UK defense firm pumps data through solid submarine walls originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 21 Jul 2010 22:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Shear-thickening liquid hardens upon impact, makes for lighter and more effective body armor

Joseph L. Flatley — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 13:14:00 EST

Scientists at BAE Systems in Bristol, UK have come up with a "shear-thickening" (or dilatant) liquid that can be combined with Kevlar to create a new, more powerful bullet-proof material. Similar to the "body armor" used by some Olympic skiers, shear-thickening material acts as a lubricant at low velocities, but quickly hardens upon impact. The scientists describe it as "bullet-proof custard," which shouldn't make us hungry but is for some reason. According to the company, recent tests in which a large gas gun fired metal projectiles at over 300 meters / second into both thirty-one layers of untreated kevlar and ten layers of kevlar combined with the liquid have determined that the liquid armor could be used to effectively protect soldiers from bullets and shrapnel.

Shear-thickening liquid hardens upon impact, makes for lighter and more effective body armor originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 09 Jul 2010 13:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Purdue researchers concoct new invisibility cloak, plan Walmart debut

Darren Murph — Fri, 22 May 2009 09:21:00 EST

Hate to say it, but we're beyond the point of hope here. We just won't ever, ever see a real-deal invisibility cloak during our relatively brief stint on Earth. That said, researchers at Purdue University are doing their best to prove us wrong, recently developing a new approach to cloaking that is supposedly "simple to manufacture." Unlike traditional invisibility cloaks, which rely on exotic metamaterials that demand complex nanofabrication, this version utilizes a far simpler design based on a tapered optical waveguide. A report from the institution asserts that the team was able to "cloak an area 100 times larger than the wavelengths of light shined by a laser into the device," but for obvious reasons, it's impossible to actually show us it happened. Regardless, for the sake of the kiddos above, we're hoping this stuff gets commercialized, and soon.

[Via Digg, Image courtesy of Thomas Ricker (yes, that Thomas Ricker)]

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Filed under: Science

Purdue researchers concoct new invisibility cloak, plan Walmart debut originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 22 May 2009 09:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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British border guards recruit robots to root out stowaways

Donald Melanson — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 16:28:00 EST

It looks like attempts to sneak across the border into Britain could soon become a battle of humans versus the machines, as the country's border guards have now recruited some robots normally used in warzones to help root out folks trying to smuggle themselves into the country. Developed by BAE Systems, the so-called "Hero" bots are equipped with searchlights and high-resolution video cameras that let it search the inside and undersides of vehicles, and they could potentially be outfitted with heartbeat detectors as well, or even sensors to detect chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear materials being smuggled into the country. While it's apparently only been tested in one location so far, the Border Agency seems to be all but sold on the bot, and it's now looking at rolling 'em out to other locations in the country. No word if they have any plans to employ BAE's spider bots, though.

[Via Danger Room, image courtesy of BAE Systems]

Filed under: Robots

British border guards recruit robots to root out stowaways originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 22 Jul 2008 16:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Bug-bot video reveals swarming drones, extreme rocking

Joshua Topolsky — Sun, 04 May 2008 13:24:00 EST

We know that you love swarming bug-bots as much as we do, so of course we were thrilled to tell you about BAE Systems' MAST project the other day. Luckily, the Army-contracted company didn't stop at mere photos to scare the living daylights out of humanity, they also created a really cheesy, yet deeply frightening video to go along with them. Enjoy a glimpse of the Skynet-controlled / shredding-guitar future of warfare after the break -- and don't say we didn't warn you.

Continue reading Bug-bot video reveals swarming drones, extreme rocking

Filed under: Robots

Bug-bot video reveals swarming drones, extreme rocking originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 04 May 2008 13:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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BAE Systems working on spider-bots, other ways to scare you to death

Joshua Topolsky — Thu, 01 May 2008 08:59:00 EST

Do you enjoy gangs of tiny, spider-like robot insectoids swarming all over your house, car, or personage? If you answered "yes," you're going to love what BAE Systems is cooking up. The company recently received an infusion of $38 million from the US Army Research Lab to fund the Micro Autonomous Systems and Technology (MAST) consortium; a team of scientists and researchers hell-bent on developing an "autonomous, multifunctional collection of miniature intelligence-gathering robots that can operate in places too inaccessible or dangerous for humans." Sure, that description (and accompanying photos, straight from BAE) does give you the impression that whoever came up with this really liked Minority Report, but won't it make you feel safer at night knowing a swarm of metallic spiders are looking out for you? No? Huh, weird.

[Via The Register]

Filed under: Robots

BAE Systems working on spider-bots, other ways to scare you to death originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 01 May 2008 08:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Talisman M UUV is a mine killer

Evan Blass — Thu, 29 Mar 2007 13:01:00 EST

From robots working in deep space to unmanned underwater vehicles patrolling the deep blue sea: military and aerospace contractor BAE Systems has just announced its latest aquatic bot, the Talisman M, which is capable of locating and killing mines without any operator intervention. The size of a small car, Talisman can operate at depths as low as 150 meters and turn a full 360 degrees thanks to its vectorable thrust pods; although it can be controlled from on board a ship, the M is just as happy wandering around on its own and bringing the pain with its so-called 'Archerfish Single Shot Mine Neutraliser.' Best of all, the British-based BAE engineers have added a little something extra in light of current events: the task-minded UUV will emit a heartfelt apology if it's ever caught encroaching on sovereign Iranian waters.

[Via The Register]

Filed under: Robots

Talisman M UUV is a mine killer originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 29 Mar 2007 13:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Researchers develop sticky gecko-like material

Donald Melanson — Wed, 26 Jul 2006 16:22:00 EST

Researchers at BAE Systems' Advanced Technology Centre in Bristol seem to have take a cue from Q's play book, developing a new synthetic material that could be used to create special wall-climbing suits for soldiers and spies. The material is designed to mimic a gecko's foot, which is covered with hairs so small that they form a bond with just about anything they touch, but can still be easily peeled off. In addition to human super-hero antics, the researchers say the material could also be used for wall-climbing robots. But the Brits aren't the only geeks that have turned to geckos for inspiration. As you may remember, some peeps at Stanford recently managed to not only replicate a gecko's sticky feet, but create a full-fledged geckobot.

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets

Researchers develop sticky gecko-like material originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 26 Jul 2006 16:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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