2007 is approaching its finish line, bringing us one step closer to the future. This was a year packed with new technologies, new applications, important (and not-so-important, but certainly nonetheless interesting) discoveries and inventions. Here we present some of the ...

A group of researchers from the University of Michigan has created the first unmanned seaplane that can perform takeoffs and landings on water. The autonomous aircraft, named ‘Flying Fish’, has a 7-foot wingspan. Developed in the framework of a project ...

In late September 2007, Boeing successfully tested a 1kw solid state laser weapon mounted on a converted Avenger anti aircraft vehicle in Redstone Arsenal, Alabama. The laser successfully destroyed several unexploded mortar shells from a safe distance and was also ...

Held for the third time since its outset in 2004, the DARPA Grand Challenge is the largest scale research and development program for autonomous vehicles. Taking place in the U.S., the event features robot cars built by teams from all ...

After several hours of highly eventful competition Carnegie Mellon University’s robotic car team won DARPA’s 2007 Urban Challenge. “Boss”, as it is known, was able to complete all three main missions and 19 submissions successfully scooping gold for Carnegie Mellon ...

The Japanese giant Hitachi has developed the world’s smallest and thinnest Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) chip. Measuring only 0.15 x 0.15 millimeters in size and 7.5 micrometers thick, the wireless chip is a smaller version of the previous record holder ...

A research team at Sandia National Laboratories is designing cars capable of analyzing human behavior. These smart cars will be able to detect whether the driver is tired or not concentrated and take appropriate action to prevent dangerous scenarios. These ...

Another set of ground testing has been recently completed by the U.S. defense contractor Aerojet for the Hypersonics Flight Demonstration program (HyFly). The program, one of several ramjet/scramjet based programs supported by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has ...

Recently, more and more attention is being drawn to self automated vehicles. From newspaper articles in to exhibitions – there is a constant discussion of cars that park themselves, armed with radar sensors and cameras that recognize whenever the driver ...

Boeing recently completed a test flight of a new unmanned helicopter currently under development for the U.S. Defense Advanced Projects Research Agency (DARPA) and the U.S. Special Operations Command. The new drone will be able to perform long range high ...