Engineering for the Military

Ambitious technical programs including Future Combat Systems are posing engineering development challenges in all facets of the U.S. military. Our features, podcasts, videos and photos below reveal how materials, automation, sensors and simulation technologies are creating a new breed of soldier.

Military’s Active Denial System is First True Ray Gun
Feeling the heat? You will if you are zapped by the military’s Non-Lethal Active Denial System (ADS), slated to enter field testing this summer in Iraq. Full Story
2008-03-06 09:24:00
Future Combat Systems Changes the Face of Battle
Future Combat Systems (FCS) employs robotics and links those robotic systems to the soldier with a vast wireless network. Full Story
2008-01-07 00:00:00
A Program for the FCS Program
The Future Combat Systems (FCS) program includes manned and unmanned vehicles, on the ground and in the air. Full Story
2007-12-10 00:00:00
Future Soldier Will Generate Power
The American soldier of the future will be garbed in an array of lightweight nanoscale materials that will provide ballistic protection and produce power through solar energy. Full Story
2008-01-07 00:00:00
Promising Fuel Cell Uses ‘Green’ Assembly
One innovative technology for the modern soldier is a fuel cell power pack that features innovative chemistry and assembly technology. Full Story
2007-12-10 00:00:00
Military Broadens Use of Virtual Reality
The military’s use of virtual reality technology goes far beyond war game simulation. Today, there are applications being developed in a multitude of areas, including advanced training, virtual engineering and command and control operations. Full Story
2008-01-07 00:00:00
Virtual Reality Helps Treat PTSD
Scientists at the University of California’s Institute for Creative Technologies have developed a VR-based system to help treat returning soldiers struggling with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Full Story
2007-12-10 00:00:00
DARPA Race’s Robot Cars Could Benefit Soldiers and Civilians Alike
Even if the military doesn’t deploy truck-sized autonomous vehicles right away, DARPA’s Urban Challenge highlights how the progress in robot technologies could improve driver assistance systems in passenger cars and trucks. Full Story
2008-01-07 00:00:00
Military MULE
When it comes to autonomous navigation, DARPA Urban Challenge vehicles and the Future Combat Systems Program's Multifunctional Utility/Logistics and Equipment (MULE) Vehicles have plenty in common. Full Story
2007-12-11 00:00:00

Synthetics Are Booted as Combat Materials

Hear clothing expert Mitch Driggers describe new materials combinations that will protect American combat soldiers in Iraq from fires caused by improvised explosive devices. 10:41
Listen Now
Virtual Reality: The New Weapon In Product Design

Mark Bryden, associate professor of mechanical engineering at Iowa State University, gives his take on how immersive virtual reality technology is changing the way products are designed in both the military and mainstream engineering. 8:56
Listen Now
Navigating DARPA's Urban Challenge

Vehicle positioning systems that combine GPS with inertial sensors and wheel encoders have emerged as a key enabling technology in the DARPA Urban Challenge. Ten teams including the top two finishers made use of a positioning and orientation system from Applanix Corp. Louis Nastro, Applanix's director of land products, explains how these systems have evolved to give positioning accuracies down to just a few centimeters. 7:32
Listen Now

Engineering Tomorrows Soldier: Photo Gallery

Design News Partner Zones

JUNE 24TH WEBCAST: Collaborative Requirements Engineering
Speed your innovation. Capture the "voice of the customer" and translate customer requests into user requirements that define new products. Find out why the new ENOVIA Requirements Management solution enables organizations to improve their overall global requirements management process. Read More

Light Matters: Systems Level Approach to HBLED illumination applications
Its good practice to apply a systems-level approach to high-brightness LED (HBLED) illumination applications. Minimally, the system includes the optical, thermal and electrical characteristics of the of the HBLED, the lens (if any) which is built-in to its package, secondary optics such as external plastic lenses/reflectors to direct the light as your application requires and power driver electronics. Read More

Design Engineers' Portal for Sensing and Machine Safety
Whatever industry you're in, or whatever product you manufacture, the right sensors to automate your plant, and to improve your overall efficiency, quality and safety are a must. You'll find Banner Engineering to be an amazing resource of products, training and people with expertise.