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Archive for the ‘Digitization’ Category
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Saturday, May 12th, 2012Pivothead Video Recording Eyewear
Sunday, May 6th, 2012Pivothead eyewear provides still and video recording. But there’s no fish eye distortion with this camera system. It features a 75 Degree Field Of View.
The lenses offer 100% UV A/B/C Blocking and ANSI Z80.3 Impact Resistance. There are multiple frame options including the Durango seen here.
HD video recording options include 1080p@30 frames per second / 720p@60fps / 720p@30fps with continuous auto focus. Pivothead also offers wind-resistant audio recording. The sensor incorporates a 8MP Sony CMOS Image Sensor for crisp still images as well as face tracking. Still recording options include time lapse burst stills with up to 16-shot rapid bursts shots per interval. Includes a 8GB internal memory capacity.
US Army Launches Apps Marketplace Prototype
Monday, March 26th, 2012The Army has launched a limited app marketplace prototype. The reason we stress the word prototype is that at this point, that’s all it is. There are currently only 12 apps available and they are training related rather than operationally focused. The Army is dipping their toe into the pool but we’d say they are in the testing the waters phase rather than the poised on the high dive that is being presented in the popular press.
Photo – US Army SFCs Russell Houck and Nanette Williams of the Pentagon’s Executive Communications Team try out Army-approved apps on personal phones and tablets. MSG Douglas Wilderman looks on.
The long pole in the tent is still the approval process. When fully implemented, the Marketplace will deliver web-based and downloadable applications to all devices approved for use within the Army’s Common Operating Environment on the Army network.
“The Apps Marketplace is at the center of Army efforts to radically reduce the time to deliver applications across the force,” said LTG Susan Lawrence, the Army’s Chief Information Officer/G-6. “This prototype is a first step in establishing and exercising new submission and approval processes that will eventually enable Army members, organizations and third-party developers to release applications for Army-wide distribution.”
Interestingly, the marketplace prototype currently only supports apps for personal iOS devices. However, the Army promises the marketplace will soon support publicly-facing apps on Android devices as well. According to the Army, the apps available now include: The Soldiers Blue Book (initial entry training guide), Army Values, Army Social Media Handbook and Developing a Performance Work Statement.
“Training aids, planning tools and other apps in the Marketplace give Soldiers easy access to information we need to keep current,” said SFC Nanette Williams, a member of the Army Executive Communications Team at the Pentagon in a recent Army press release.
The apps were all developed by Army training schools in the Connecting Soldiers to Digital Apps, or CSDA, initiative. These apps are available at www.marketplace.army.mil. However, access is restricted.
Russians Inspect Soldato Futuro
Wednesday, March 14th, 2012Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Lt. Col. Sergei Vlasov said on Monday, “A military delegation, headed by Deputy Commander of the Russian Ground Forces Lt. Gen. Nikolai Bogdanovsky, is on a three-day working visit to Italy to exchange experience in the development of combat gear.”
According to RIA Novosti, Russian officials are going to inspect versions of the Italian Forza NEC system in both field and static display conditions. The system is manufactured by a consortium of five companies led by Selex Communications and includes a Larimart computer using a standard 4-inch touch-screen for command and control, GPS and GIS. Additionally, there is a protection component with body armor featuring stab protection and protection against 9-mm rounds as well as a helmet with two visor options; bullet-proof and frag protective. Also included are laser protective goggles. Finally, the clothing component is FR and offers CBRNE options. However, it is not expected that the Russian delegation will expect much interest in the Italian ARX-160 rifle.
Once again, this is very much a NATO ‘Starship Troopers” program and not the first time that the Russian military has expressed interest in NATO Soldier Modernization Programs. Just a year ago, they expressed interest in purchasing copies of the French FELIN system. Their goal is to launch a domestic Russian program in the near future.
PCAS – The Final Piece
Monday, March 5th, 2012We’ve mentioned the Persistent Close Air Support (PCAS) program in the past. Remember the Vuzix Next Generation Display Technology we wrote about last Spring? It’s a major enabling technology but there’s still a lot going on.
Raytheon is the prime for the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) PCAS program which is intended to allow the joint terminal attack controller (JTAC) the ability to rapidly engage multiple, moving and simultaneous targets within his area of responsibility. Additionally, the system will be designed to reduce collateral damage and potential fratricide to friendly forces. What’s more, PCAS is taking a ‘system-of-systems’ approach demonstrating the ability to digitally task a CAS platform from the ground.
DARPA’s been working the software, man-machine interface and JTAC portions of the program hard. The missing piece has been the aircraft in the loop. Recently, Aurora Flight Sciences was chosen to convert an A-10 CAS platform into an Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) which may well be the most ambitious element of the program. Despite the Air Force’s long-term goal of retiring the most successful CAS aircraft ever built, ground forces are one step closer to controlling their own CAS. We foresee a day where ground force commanders own purpose-built CAS platforms controlled by non-rated JTACs.
PVS14 iPhone Adapter Available Through BHI
Tuesday, February 28th, 2012Blackheart International was set up just around the corner from US Night Vision at SHOT Show. Looks like they saw the PVS14 iPhone Adapter we wrote about.
I still think this was one of the best things that came out of SHOT Show this year. The concept is pretty simple and combines the strengths of night vision and digital imagery. The adapter connects the AN/PVS14 to an iPhone. You can use your preferred digital photography app to capture and manipulate stills and full motion video. Then, it’s as simple as transmitting the data via SMS or email.
Canada Releases ISSP RFP
Friday, February 17th, 2012Early this week, the Department of National Defence of Canada released a Request for Proposals for their next generation Soldier system. According to DND, “Integrated Soldier System Project will provide the soldier with an integrated suite of equipment that includes weapon accessories, electronic devices, sensors, individual equipment and operational clothing. This soldier system will significantly increase soldier performance, as soldiers and low-level command centres will seamlessly share data and voice communications through a network. This capability will facilitate effective and timely interaction. As a result, soldiers will have more comprehensive situational awareness, real-time tactical information and greater synchronization of activity.” What we’ve got here is a classic Soldier digitization program straight out of the 90s. It is another attempt to integrate sensors and comms onto the Soldier as a platform in order to increase Situational Awareness which will result increased survivability and lethality.
Diagram – Canada DND
They intend to award two contracts to one successful bidder. According to the RFP these two contracts consist of:
“The first contract, called the ISS Acquisition Contract will be over an approximate period of four (4) years and will consist of a qualification of the ISS and then, if successfully qualified, the purchase of a firm quantity of ISS in pre-determined batches totaling one thousand six hundred (1,600) units as complete system along with associated preliminary Integrated Logistics Support (ILS) such as technical documentation, training and initial provisioning of spares, with the option to purchase, in multiple parts, optional quantities up to an additional five thousand twenty four (5,024) ISS-Suites as complete system or component by component.
The second contract, called the ISS Optimized Weapon System Support Contract, will be for the ISS In-Service Support and Improvement Activities over a period of five (5) years plus 3 two-year irrevocable options allowing Canada to extend the term of the Contract.”
Potential offerors have until 2012-04-18 02:00 PM Eastern Daylight Saving Time EDT to submit their proposals. The ISSP RFP is available on Merx, the Canadian equivalent of FedBizOpps.
Interactive Command Table from HDT
Tuesday, February 14th, 2012
You’re probably familiar with Base-X tents, produced by HDT, but they also develop and produce advanced technology systems through HDT Engineering Services such as this new Interactive Command Table.
This new rugged smart board display 3000 lumen display offers 60 diagonal inches (152.4 cm), 40â€x52†(101.6×132.1 cm) of tabletop space. It can be used flat or mounted to a wall and integrated collaboration tools enable the user to digitally capture the content from the tabletop for use on a computer. The uses are myriad, giving you real application of geospatial intelligence such as mission and route planning, convoy embarkation, perimeter defense, and other mapping applications. Think of the utility when combined with PFPS or other mission planning tools.
HDT products are available to Government customers through ADS Inc.
