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Archive for the ‘Gadgets’ Category

Off! Clip-On Misquito Repellent

Monday, May 25th, 2009

Off! recently introduced their Clip-On Misquito Repellant. Encased in a Blue plastic disc, the unit relies on a fan powered by two AA batteries to blow the repellent around you. Interestingly, the active ingredient offers a total of 12 hours of protection and Off! says that you can turn the unit on and off to utilize the full 12 hours so long as you do it withing two weeks from the initial use. The unit has an on/off switch as well as a meter to display how much repellent is left. The active ingredient is Metofluthrin which doesn’t need to be applied to the skin.

Additionally Off! has a coupon on their website for a free refill when you purchase a starter kit.

We feel this still needs some work before it would be appropriate for most tactical applications, it is after all Blue and does use a fan to disseminate the repellent although Off! claims the fan is silent. An additional issue is that the dissemination means is best suited for stationary use. If you are constantly moving the repellent won’t provide full coverage. However, it would be ok for outdoor admin functions and could possibly be used for certain surveillance applications. Also on the upside, the repellent is odorless.

Finally, please remember that all of the precautions for repellents still apply as well as those for small electronic devices.

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Purdue Develops Broadband Cloaking

Saturday, May 23rd, 2009

Researchers at Purdue University have developed a new type of invisibility cloak that is simpler than previous designs and works for all colors of the visible spectrum. Rather than using expensive “metamaterials” used in other cloak designs, the new design is a far simpler device based on a “tapered optical waveguide”. Waveguides are used in communications technologies including fiber optics.

The research team used their specially tapered waveguide to cloak an area 100 times larger than the wavelengths of light shined by a laser into the device, an unprecedented achievement. Previous experiments with metamaterials have been limited to cloaking regions only a few times larger than the wavelengths of visible light. This research may one day lead to the ability to cloak large objects.

ABSTRACT
Anisotropic Metamaterials Emulated
by Tapered Waveguides:
Application to Optical Cloaking

Igor I. Smolyaninov1, Vera N. Smolyaninova2, Alexander V. Kildishev3, and Vladimir M. Shalaev3

1Advanced Technologies, BAE Systems, Washington, D.C.; 2Dept. of Physics Astronomy and Geosciences, Towson University; 3Birck Nanotechnology Center, School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Purdue University

We demonstrate that metamaterial devices requiring anisotropic dielectric permittivity and magnetic permeability may be emulated by specially designed tapered waveguides. This approach leads to low-loss, broadband performance. Based on this technique, we demonstrate broadband electromagnetic cloaking in the visible frequency range on a scale ~100 times larger than the wavelength.

For more information visit Purdue’s website.

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Glass Assault Tool

Saturday, May 23rd, 2009

Developed by Paul Howe for XS Sight Systems, the GAT is designed to penetrate vehicle side and back window glass while enabling the shooter to keep his hands on his weapon. It attaches to the weapon in seconds and in testing during CSAT courses, has not come loose nor affected the weapon’s zero.

For more information visit www.xssights.com.

Tags: GAT
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TAD’s Alter Ego

Thursday, May 21st, 2009

We are big fans of Triple Aught Designs here at Soldier Systems Daily and every once in awhile we will get an email from a reader telling us about a new discovery that TAD Gear has an alter ego called Rocket World. Yes we know, and yes it is really cool.

In addition to providing a venue for non-tactical products, Rocket World is a vehicle for the folks at TAD’s other passion; high end figures and collectible toys. Their centerpiece is the “Insurgents Wilderness Gruppo” or IWG, a group of evolved animals who seek revenge on humans who kill endangered species.

In addition to figures, the theme is also carried out in art, clothing, and patches and pins.

Rocket World has been recently featured on several gadget websites and the IWG line of toys has long been a favorite of collectors. In fact, as new projects are released they sell out very quickly.

Check out what everyone is raving about at www.rocketworld.org.

Tags: IWG, Rocket World, Tacticool, TAD Gear
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Poseidon by Cejay Engineering

Tuesday, May 12th, 2009

The Poseidon Clip Mount (902801) was designed specifically to provide a watertight and durable mounting system for the Phoenix and Pegasus series of Infrared beacons. It is a versatile mountain solution that attaches to PALS webbing, belts, or directly to a uniform by using the supplied locking spring clips. It can also be secured with bolts to rigid surfaces such as helmets and vehicles.

The beacon is attached to the battery and placed within the Poseidon Clip Mount. The clear top cover is placed over the beacon and secured using the dual locking flanges forming a watertight seal. The clear top cover allows for 360 degree visibility of the beacon.

An included shield cap can be snapped in place over the top cover to focus the signal emission to the front and top only, giving the user the choice of directing the signal emission. The Poseidon’s construction allows the Pegasus 4, 7, and 8 Series beacons to be programmed with the Pegasus 6 controller without removal from the case.

Available in OD, Tan, and Black from Cejay Engineering.

Tags: Cejay Engineering, Poseidon
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Down Range Gear NOD Retention Devices

Saturday, May 2nd, 2009

Down Range Gear has introduced two new NOD retention devices to augment their original design. Both are designed to retain and prevent the loss of a helmet mounted NOD but offer slightly different features.

With the ver 2 design a female side release buckle is pinned between the NOD plate and the helmet to form a sturdy socket that will remain on the helmet. The male end of the buckle is tethered to the NOD body via tension adjustable shock cord.

This system can also be upgraded with an improved dummy cord, snapping a female side release buckle onto a PALS loop to secure the NOD while stored.

The ver 3 is a streamlined design and features a male side release buckle that is anchored to the helmet under the NOD plate and tethered to length/tension adjustable shock cord. A short length of webbing keeps the female buckle secured to the device.

Optional steel cable ties are available for environmental extremes that require more than plastic and both versions are available in Coyote Tan and Foliage Green from www.downrangegear.com.

Posted in Gadgets, Helmets | Comments Off on Down Range Gear NOD Retention Devices

Remagen Man Portable Bridge from Tactical & Rescue Gear

Wednesday, April 15th, 2009

TRG's Remagen Bridge

TRG has been around for some time providing innovative solutions for warfighter problems. The Remagen Man Portable Bridge is one of the coolest things we have seen. Designed at the request of troops fighting house to house in Iraq, the Remagen is lightweight (91 lbs) and modular. Assembled in up to four sections (90â€ x 22â€ x 4â€) the bridge can span a 28′ obstacle and with an optional fifth panel can safely extend that to 33′ while supporting a 500 lbs load. The Remagen is manufactured from carbon fiber w/aluminum-G-10 fiberglass fittings and easily assembled in the field by a three man crew in 10 minutes.

TRG's Remagen Bridge Panel Can be Used as an Assault Ladder

Now all of this is already pretty handy, but wait. Flip a bridge panel over and it is an assault ladder. Now THAT is cool.

Expect to see lots more coverage of Tactical & Rescue Gear in the future. Until then, check them out on the web at www.trgear.com.

Posted in Gadgets, Sustainment | Comments Off on Remagen Man Portable Bridge from Tactical & Rescue Gear

Comms Cord and Reel

Friday, April 10th, 2009

From high tech to low tech. The last article depicted the latest in intra-squad communications but there are more traditional methods. Although rarely used by US forces, the British continue to utilize a comms line when setting up a patrol harbour (base). Naturally, this can’t be used while patrolling but it is a silent means of communication while lying up. The concept is to string lines between emplacements in order to signal one another. Codes are worked out to signify different messages, for example, two tugs means stand to.

Comms Cord on a Reel from RV Ops

Comms cord on a reel with a handy carabiner clip is available from RV Ops in the UK.

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