lasers
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Boeing's Advanced Tactical Laser to take out ground targets
While ground-based lasers might provide some semblance of security, what any science fiction fan really wants is aircraft-mounted lasers to take out evildoers whilst patrolling the skies. Fortunately for the American military, that day may come sooner than one might think. Late last week, Boeing announced the "first light" of its "high-energy chemical laser in ground tests, achieving two key milestones in the laser gunship development effort." In other words, the new "Advanced Tactical Laser" can pretty much take out anything on the ground (and we assume eventually in the sky as well). The best part? The laser is scalable, "meaning the weapon operator will be able to select the degree and nature of the damage done to a target by choosing a specific aimpoint and laser shot duration. For example, targeting the fuel tank of a vehicle could result in total destruction of the vehicle, while targeting a tire might result in the vehicle stopping without injury to the driver." Now that's freakin' sweet.
Fight evil llamas and chickens in Death Jr. 2
Konami's Gamers Day has been very good to PSP owners. Gamespot (are they the only ones covering this event?) posted some new gameplay videos of Death Jr. 2 in motion. While I can't really see any HDR lighting in it, the game does look pretty sharp, and if Gamespot is to be believed, it does have advanced light blooming and shadow effects. Although my eye may not be trained to see the technical details, I do see that the quirky charm has been retained: there are crazy chickens that shoot lasers at you!!! They are far more vicious than the chickens of Zelda and clearly, they must be stopped.Watch - Fight against chickensWatch - Boss fight
Laser system promises to help keep trains on the tracks
The US Federal Railroad Administration is turning to lasers to help keep the country's railways in tip top shape. The system, developed by researchers at the University of California, San Diego, effectively "taps" the railroad tracks with a laser pulse while it flies along the rails at speeds up to 70 miles per hour, checking for both surface cuts and internal cracks with, well, laser-like accuracy. Current track-inspection systems top out at just 30 miles per hour and, according to the researchers, can often miss the more dangerous internal cracks in the track that can lead to derailings. The first tests of the system done back in March were apparently promising, although there are still more tests planned before the admin makes a final decision. But you already know our position: everything's better with lasers.[Via Futurismic]
Skyguard defense laser protects humans, kills missiles
Always one to ensure that our soldiers are equipped with the latest and greatest killing tools battlefield technology, military contractor Northrop Grumman has just unveiled a mobile defense system that creates a virtual bubble of protection against flying artillery over anything located within a five kilometer radius. Based on the Tactical High Energy Laser testbed that's been in development since 1996, the so-called Skyguard system employs target-acquisition radar and a deuterium fluoride laser to detect and shoot down a variety of airborne projectiles, including rockets, mortars, and short-range munitions. Northrop is promoting the weapon as a way for countries to defend deployed troops or critical infrastructure such as airports, and not surprisingly, Israel was one of the first foreign nations given a product pitch. Initially the system is said to cost between $150 and $200 million per installation, though mass adoption could see prices plummet to less than $30 million- and someday it may even be affordable enough to install at your very own house, providing the neighborhood kids with some not-so-subtle encouragement to keep their baseballs and frisbees out of your damn yard.[Via Gizmag and Laser Focus World]
Prototype device detects, disables digital cameras
Proving once again that "outdated technology" still has its place among today's high-tech products, old-school film cameras may soon be the only shooters not rendered ineffective in the face of a new device that promises to identify and disable their digital counterparts in secure environments. Currently still in the prototype phase, the device developed by researchers at the Georgia Tech College of Computing's Interactive and Intelligent Computing Division uses its own set of digital cameras along with a scanning laser to inspect a given area for telltale signs of CCD imagers (shape, size, reflectivity), and subsequently shoots out concentrated beams of light to overwhelm the sensors of offending gadgets. Although the device is still unable to accurately detect camcorders whose CCDs are set farther back from the lens than regular still cameras, once that obstacle is overcome, this technology is expected to be deployed by governments and businesses as an anti-espionage technique or in movie theaters as a way of combating piracy. See, you thought you were ahead of the game with your ten megapixel cameraphone, but it's actually the spies and pirates equipped with those old medium-format Pentaxes who will soon rise to the top of their respective professions.[Via Dvorak Uncensored]
Fujitsu spins off quantum dot laser firm QD Laser
More exciting news from the world of venture capital: following Philips' announcement yesterday of a VC-funded spinoff to develop thin Electrowetting displays, Fujitsu has announced that it's launching its own new subsidiary with the help of Japanese general trading company Mitsui Ventures. Tasked with commercializing nascent quantum dot laser technology, the creatively-titled QD Laser Inc. will leverage quantum dot semiconductor crystallization techniques and laser design processes developed by Fujitsu to enter the optical LAN market. Quantum dot lasers offer superior networking benefits to conventional semiconductor lasers due to their higher speeds, lower power consumption, and ability to operate in a greater range of temperatures.
