Infantry of Tomorrow

[ArmyRick]

I like the idea of having "secondary task" within a section such as medic (TCCC kind of does it), Sigs (really know the gear), Demolitions, HUMINT/Languages, etc, etc.

 

[a_majoor]

Training, PT and genetic engineering:

http://nextbigfuture.com/2009/11/myostatin-inhibiting-gene-therapy.html

Myostatin Inhibiting Gene Therapy Success in Monkeys

One person in a million has natural myostatin inhibition genes

Work was done on Macaque monkeys. Commonly scientific work is on rhesus macaques.

Researchers at Nationwide Children's Hospital have shown that a gene delivery strategy that produces follistatin -- a naturally occurring protein that inhibits myostatin, a growth factor expressed specifically in skeletal muscle -- directly to the quadriceps of non-human primates results in long-term gene expression with muscle enhancing effects, including larger muscles with greater strength. The muscles were 15% bigger, 78% stronger and the effect lasted for the 15 month study with no negative health effects. The treatment produced no obvious negative side-effects and human clinical trials are expected to start next year.

Myostatin inhibition occurs naturally in about one in one million people. Studies with mice indicate myostatin inhibition is four times more effective than high doses of steroids. Myostatin inhibition can have various health benefits and not just performance enhancment. It can be used to counter the muscle wasting in old people and help old people stay mobile longer. Mobile people stay healthier longer. Another potential benefit is help people with weight control and reduction of obesity. Muscles consume more calories than fat so someone with Myostatin inhibition should find it easier to manage their weight. Having fewer obese people should improve public health and could also help with national medical costs.

A previous study of myostatin inhibitors on mice has shown protection against obesity and hardening of the arteries

    Obesity increases the risk of atherosclerosis, which accounts for 75% of all cardiovascular events, such as heart attacks and strokes. The mice with deleted myostatin gene had much less body fat and 30 percent lower fasting blood sugar and 80% lower fasting insulin levels, showing a reduction in obesity and a strong resistance to developing diabetes, the authors reported. They also had 50 percent lower low-density-lipoprotein ("bad") cholesterol and 30 to 60 percent lower levels of total cholesterol and triglycerides (fats in the blood), respectively. These results indicate protection against the development of atherosclerosis.

So safe (potentially health improving) and very effective muscle enhancement appears to be close. At the end of this article is other option which is already being used by people now (SARMs - produce a steroid like effect that only goes to the muscles).

Estimates are that 7 million people take steroids to boost their muscles (in spite of the health risks) and most do it for enhanced appearance and not for sports.

Steroid like effects with no health risks and potentially health benefits would seem likely to be very widely used. If the protection against obesity and artery hardening holds up in human trials then it would make sense for everyone to have the myostatin inhibition treatment to protect and cardiovascular disease and death which is the number one cause of death. Abut 30% of all deaths are cause by heart disease

    This more recent study produced similar results in non-human primates, in a translational study to demonstrate efficacy in safety in a species more closely related to humans. Non-human primates that received the injection of the follistatin transgene experienced pronounced and durable increases in muscle size and strength. Muscle growth occurred for 12 weeks after treatment, after which time the growth rates appeared to stabilize and were well tolerated, with no adverse events noted over the course of the 15-month study.

    "Our studies indicate that this relatively non-invasive approach could have long-term effects, involve few risks and could potentially be effective in various types of degenerative muscle disorders including multiple forms of muscular dystrophy," said the study's corresponding author, Brian Kaspar, PhD, principal investigator in the Center for Gene Therapy of The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital.

Times UK has more info

    After the treatment, the monkeys’ leg muscles grew steadily, and were 15 per cent bigger in circumference on average after eight weeks.

    Using electrical muscle stimulation, the scientists showed that the treated legs were also significantly stronger than the untreated legs. In one monkey, the treated leg was 78 per cent stronger. .

    The enhanced size and power were retained 15 months after the treatment and caused no apparent health problems.

Follistatin Gene Delivery Enhances Muscle Growth and Strength in Nonhuman Primates

    Antagonists of myostatin, a blood-borne negative regulator of muscle growth produced in muscle cells, have shown considerable promise for enhancing muscle mass and strength in rodent studies and could serve as potential therapeutic agents for human muscle diseases. One of the most potent of these agents, follistatin, is both safe and effective in mice, but similar tests have not been performed in nonhuman primates. To assess this important criterion for clinical translation, we tested an alternatively spliced form of human follistatin that affects skeletal muscle but that has only minimal effects on nonmuscle cells. When injected into the quadriceps of cynomolgus macaque monkeys, a follistatin isoform expressed from an adeno-associated virus serotype 1 vector, AAV1-FS344, induced pronounced and durable increases in muscle size and strength. Long-term expression of the transgene did not produce any abnormal changes in the morphology or function of key organs, indicating the safety of gene delivery by intramuscular injection of an AAV1 vector. Our results, together with the findings in mice, suggest that therapy with AAV1-FS344 may improve muscle mass and function in patients with certain degenerative muscle disorders.

Supplemental Material

Supplemental material in a 6 page pdf

The treatment did not cause sperm or menstrual cycles to go outside of normal ranges.

Fig. S1. MCK-FS causes myofiber hypertrophy and predominantly affects fast-twitch type 2 myofibers in the quadriceps muscle.
Fig. S2. Morphological effects on sperm from male cynomologus macaques treated with AAV1-FS344.
Table S1. Menstrual cycles in untreated control and AAV1-FS344–treated cynomolgus macaques.
Table S2. Sperm motility and morphology of untreated control and AAV1- FS344–treated cynomolgus macaques.
Table S3. Primer and probe sets used in quantitative polymerase chain reaction (QPCR) for vector genome quantification.

Seperate Product/Method for Potentially Safe Muscle Boosting
Steroid like effects that are theorized to be safer are available online from SARMs.

    SARMs work similarly to testosterone but in a more targeted way. "They are effective by binding to the steroid receptor in only specific tissue, like muscle," says Evans, who is also a scientific advisor to GTx, a company developing the drugs. "They are not steroid drugs, but they produce the anabolic effect of the steroids." GTx, based in Memphis, TN, has shown in a clinical trial that one compound being developed for muscle wasting and bone loss can significantly boost lean muscle mass in older people.

Expectations

The current black market use of SARMs (before clinical trials are done, phase 3 clinical trials not started) via online purchase and the online sale of fake myostatin inhibitors and fake SARMs shows the massive demand that will be there for the real thing. Especially after they do clear clinical trials for Muscle wasting diseases. I expect to be having some type of myostatin inhibitor treatment within ten years. Maintain muscles before getting too hold and maintaining as I get older, less risk of falling and breaking a hip later, heart health, weight control. do not care about the sports aspect. The real sports competitors will doing this and ten other riskier things. I had LASIK done over ten years ago and have not regretted it. Was able to get 20-15 vision (so better than the old good vision standard of 20-20).

The "clean" sports leagues will look like childrens little league compared to the open enhancement leagues.

2020 expectation:
SARMs and Myostatin inhibition widespread (tens of millions)
20-5 vision common from advanced LASIK and other treatments
Next generation cognitive enhancement drugs
robotic and cyber enhancements
Augmented reality vision (goggles/visors)
Mind machine interfaces

The next level after those will be transgenic (gorilla strength, 40 mph speed, super leaping, cognitive remodelling - stem cells, gene therapy, superdrugs 300IQ-1000IQ and may more), molecular nanotechnology enhancement. Although the performance enhancement is interesting, it will be the enhancements for
- super immune systems
- life extension and health enhancement
- radiation and other resistence
- cognitive enhancement
- regeneration

that will be the big impacters of civilization.

FURTHER READING
human enhancement overview

whole body gene therapy progress

Japanese create transgenic monkeys

Transgenic genetic engineering update

 

[a_majoor]

Jump Company of Tomorrow!:

http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2009/12/look-out-below-wingsuits-pushed-for-airbone-assaults/

Look Out Below! Wingsuits Pushed for Airborne Assaults
By David Hambling  December 3, 2009  |  8:00 am  |  Categories: Bizarro

Yves Rossy, aka “Jet man” and “Fusion Man,” has grabbed headlines with his jet-powered flights with an 8-foot wing strapped to his back. But he could be joined sometime soon by commandos on an airborne assault.

Last year, Rossy successfully flew 22 miles across the English Channel. Last week’s attempt to cross from Africa to Europe by flying from Morocco to Spain was less successful. Strong winds were against him, and Rossy ended up in the sea three miles short of the coast. Undaunted, the Swiss former military pilot now plans to fly across the Grand Canyon.

Rossy has reportedly refused requests from the military and stated that his powered wing, which cost more than $190,000 to develop, is only for aviation enthusiasts. However, he’s not the only one in the wingsuit business.

The Special Parachute and Logistics Consortium, is a German venture between two companies with expertise in this area. SPELCO produces a variety of parachute systems, helmets, oxygen supplies and other gear and services. But their most eye-catching project is the Gryphon Next Generation Parachute System (PDF, pictured).

This is described as a modular upgrade for parachute systems for use in “high-altitude, high-opening” jump missions, typically carried out by Special Forces. This 6-foot wing gives a glide ratio of 5:1, which means that a drop from 30,000 feet will allow you to glide about 30 miles. The makers estimate that this would take around 15 minutes, giving an average speed of about 60 miles an hour.

“All equipment is hidden in a lifting body optimized for stealth, the radar-signature is extremely low,” says the Gryphon data sheet (PDF). “Detection of incoming Gryphon soldiers by airborne or ground radar will be extremely difficult.”

Gryphon has a guidance system and heads-up display navigation. Best of all, the company are looking at an option for bolting on small engines similar to those used in Yves Rossy’s setup. These will increase the range to more than 60 miles, but will also make it possible to cover long distances from low altitude so that the entire mission can be more stealthy.

The company does not seem to have had any public offers for Gryphon yet — although, given the nature of likely customers, those offers might be kept relatively quiet.

Wingsuits are an addition to normal parachutes that allow better gliding. A parachute has to be deployed in order to land. However, wingsuit skydivers want to overcome this and are developing techniques to land safely without a parachute. This sounds like a practically suicidal manuever, but it seems likely that in the next few years technology and the careful application of technique will make it possible to land with a wingsuit alone. It’s certainly possible from a theoretical aerodynamic point of view, but whether it’s practical may be another matter.

This might just be the future for ultrastealthy airborne assault. Aided by extremely precise instruments and a flight computer, the wingman comes in at low level and high speed, before pulling up and dropping gently to the ground at exactly the right spot. It might sound wild, but it would certainly surprise the bad guys.

 

[a_majoor]

DARPA funding some pretty wild stuff:

http://nextbigfuture.com/2009/12/super-soldier-updates.html

Super Soldier Updates

DARPA has a program that is spending about $3 billion to create super soldiers. Here is an update of technology that is ready or is becoming deployable or usable for the purpose of creating super soldiers. Much of it is not from DARPA.

Exoskeletons
1. The Human Universal Load Carrier (HULC™) exoskeleton runs on Li-ion batteries, driving lightweight hydraulic legs with titanium structure. A wearer can hang a 200lb backpack from the back frame and heavy chest armour and kit from shoulder extensions.

According to Lockheed reps the HULC isn't ready for prime time yet, being still "in ruggedisation". However the company would envisage giving it to actual soldiers so as to get their input from the summer of 2010.

2. Raytheon (was from Sarcos) XOS lightweight aluminum exoskeleton

Users wear the exoskeleton, dubbed XOS, like a lightweight aluminum suit. Equipped with sensors, actuators, and controllers, the machine’s advanced software senses and instantly follows movement in smooth, continuous coordination. At full power, one may not only carry or lift 200 pounds more than 100 times without stopping, but also bend to kick, punch, or climb stairs and ramps. The Exoskeletons for Human Performance Augmentation program began in 2000 and development centers at the Raytheon Sarcos research facility in Salt Lake City, Utah, with funding from the U.S. Army. Early prototypes are expected in 2010 with fully deployed versions by 2017. Smaller and more powerful mobile power supplies are key as up to now demonstrations have a powercord to power them.

3. Exoskeletons and powerloaders could be coming from Japan in 2015 Japan has exoskeletons available for senior citizens now.

Strength Enhancement
4. Myostatin inhibition has been successfully demonstrated in monkeys.

The muscles were 15% bigger, 78% stronger and the effect lasted for the 15 month study with no negative health effects. The treatment produced no obvious negative side-effects and human clinical trials are expected to start next year. Myostatin inhibition has seen other trials where it has four times the effect of high doses of steroids.

5. Real SARM Steroids Are Available for Online Purchase

MIT Technology review reports that a group from the German Sport University Cologne in Germany detected the real SARM (selective androgen receptor modulators)in a product called Andarine, available online for $100 and labeled as green tea extracts and face moisturizer.

Selective androgen receptor modulators have steroid effects but are believed to be safer, without many of the harmful side effects of steroids.

6 FRS energy has had trials which show improved performance in endurance events and it is commercially available (Lance Armstrong promotes it)

7. Wearable enhancement is available for running faster and jumping farther

Powerbocking (jumping stilts, springwalkers) is the act of jumping and running with elastic-like spring-loaded stilts. For some it is an extreme sport, for others it is a form of exercise or even a means of artistic expression. The use of the stilts to perform extreme jumping, running and acrobatics is known as 'Bocking' or 'PowerBocking' after the inventor

Each boot consists of a foot-plate with snowboard type bindings, rubber foot pad which is also commonly called a hoof, and a fibreglass leaf spring. Using only their weight, and few movements, the user is generally able to jump 3–5 ft (1–1.5 meters) off the ground and run up to 20 mph (32 km/h). They also give the ability to take up to 9-foot (2.7 meters) strides

Guns and Weapons
8. The AA-12 recoilless auto assault gun can rapidly fire a lot of grenades.

The Auto Assault-12 (AA-12) shotgun (originally designed and known as the Atchisson Assault Shotgun). The AA-12 can fire in semi-automatic or fully automatic mode at 300 rounds per minute (5 every second) and has a magazine of 32 rounds. The AA-12 can fire 120 grenade rounds per minute with 9 foot blast radius. Having one AA-12 in each hand doubles the rate of fire.

New electromagnetic pulse (EMP) grenades could be adapted to the AA-12 as well, that would emit hundreds of megawatts of EMP for microseconds. A small e-bomb will be qualitatively different than larger versions. Radiated power falls off with the square of distance, so a target 3 meters (10 ft.) away receives 100 times the effect of one 30 meters away. An EMP grenade would probably only be effective for a 10-30 foot radius.

9. Instant wound healing progress

10. DARPA is developing injections to put injured soldiers into hibernation so that they can live until they can be treated

The institute’s researchwill be based on previous Darpa-funded efforts. One project, at Stanford University, hypothesized that humans could one day mimic the hibernation abilities of squirrels — who emerge from winter months no worse for wear — using a pancreatic enzyme we have in common with the critters. The other, led by Dr. Mark Roth at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, used nematode worms and rats to test how hydrogen sulfide could block the body’s ability to use oxygen — creating a kind of “suspended animation” where hearts stop beating and wounds don’t bleed. After removing 60 percent of the rat’s blood, Dr. Roth managed to keep the critters alive for 10 hours using his hydrogen sulfide cocktail.

 

[a_majoor]

This dosn't exactly fit anywhere else, but if future medics could actually build replacement organs on the spot, then many soldiers suffering severe injury might have a better chance of survival. (Growing new skin for burn victims is an obvious choice.)

Adult stem cells reside within all of us, so getting "raw material" to grow new skin, muscle, bones or organs isn't a problem. Time to generate the cells and time for the machine to create the finished product is the sticking point, this won't help much at the Role 3, but will help a lot back home for reconstruction and recovery.

http://nextbigfuture.com/2009/12/3d-bioprinters.html

3D Bioprinters

Invetech, an innovator in new product development and custom automation for the biomedical, industrial and consumer markets, Dec 1, 2009 announced that it has delivered the world`s first production model 3D bio-printer to Organovo, developers of the proprietary NovoGen bioprinting technology. Organovo will supply the units to research institutions investigating human tissue repair and organ replacement.

    Invetech plan to ship a number of 3D bio-printers to Organovo during 2010 and 2011 as a part of the instrument development program. Organovo will be placing the printers globally with researchers in centers of excellence for medical research.

    “Scientists and engineers can use the 3D bio printers to enable placing cells of almost any type into a desired pattern in 3D,” said Murphy. “Researchers can place liver cells on a preformed scaffold, support kidney cells with a co-printed scaffold, or form adjacent layers of epithelial and stromal soft tissue that grow into a mature tooth. Ultimately the idea would be for surgeons to have tissue on demand for various uses, and the best way to do that is get a number of bio-printers into the hands of researchers and give them the ability to make three dimensional tissues on demand.”

    The 3D bio-printers include an intuitive software interface that allows engineers to build a model of the tissue construct before the printer commences the physical constructions of the organs cell-by-cell using automated, laser-calibrated print heads.

    The printer, developed by Invetech, fits inside a standard biosafety cabinet for sterile use. It includes two print heads, one for placing human cells, and the other for placing a hydrogel, scaffold, or support matrix. One of the most complex challenges in the development of the printer was being able to repeatedly position the capillary tip, attached to the print head, to within microns. This was essential to ensure that the cells are placed in exactly the right position. Invetech developed a computer controlled, laser-based calibration system to achieve the required repeatability.

 

[a_majoor]

More on exoskeletons. The realistic exo's for soldiers will be rather form fitting rather than the monsterous contraptions in the movies Aliens or Avatar. Bayonet optional:

http://nextbigfuture.com/2010/01/hulc-exoskeleton-to-fuel-cell-for-over.html

HULC Exoskeleton to Fuel Cell For Over 3 Days of Power

Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] has selected Protonex Technology Corporation to develop power supply concepts that will enable the HULC robotic exoskeleton to support 72+-hour extended missions.

The Lockheed HULC exoskeleton was covered here Previously a jet fuel generator was needed to get this level of endurance.

Protonex will evaluate fuel cell-based power solutions that can be carried by the HULC, while at the same time powering the exoskeleton and the user’s mission equipment during extended dismounted operations.

"Integrating state-of-the-art power technology on the HULC is a whole system approach to meeting the needs of dismounted Warfighters and Special Operations forces," said Rich Russell, director of Sensors, Data Links and Advanced Programs at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control. “With proper power management systems, the HULC can be used to recharge critical equipment while carrying heavy combat loads on an extended mission."

Dismounted Soldiers often carry loads greater than 130 pounds, including electronics and numerous extra batteries needed to operate gear and complete 72+-hour operations in the field. The HULC, equipped with an extended mission power supply with recharge capability, would enable dismounted Soldiers on these missions to carry fewer batteries

* Soldiers will be able to carry loads up to 200 pounds with minimal effort
* HULC uses four pounds of lithium polymer batteries will run the exoskeleton for an hour walking at 3mph, according to Lockheed. Speed marching at up to 7mph reduces this somewhat; a battery-draining "burst" at 10mph is the maximum speed
A soldier with a pack would normally go at 3 mph maximum and cover 10-12 miles in a day.
* Remote-controlled gun mounts weighing as little as 55lb are available, able to handle various kinds of normally tripod- or bipod-mounted heavy weapons

* HULC is basically a legs and body system only: there's no enhancement to the user's arms, though an over-shoulder frame can be fitted allowing a wearer to hoist heavy objects such as artilery shells with the aid of a lifting strop.

NOTE: Average humans walk 4 to 6 mph, but special operations soldiers are often expected to carry up to 150 pounds of supplies in their backpacks. 25mph speed with bionic boots (springing the step) would be covering almost a marathon distance in one hour.

 

[Fusaki]

More on exoskeletons. The realistic exo's for soldiers will be rather form fitting rather than the monsterous contraptions in the movies Aliens or Avatar. Bayonet optional:

http://nextbigfuture.com/2010/01/hulc-exoskeleton-to-fuel-cell-for-over.html

If you look at the 1:00 mark of the video, you'll notice Lockheed's robolegs wearing MK3 vibram soles. I wonder if it's robocartilage had to wear out in it's robojoints, or if it developed roboback problems, before it could get a chit?

 

[RCR Grunt]

If you look at the 1:00 mark of the video, you'll notice Lockheed's robolegs wearing MK3 vibram soles. I wonder if it's robocartilage had to wear out in it's robojoints, or if it developed roboback problems, before it could get a chit?

Maybe he went downtown and got them using his own robodollars.  He better hope the roboRSM doesn't disapprove.

 

[Fusaki]

...or his robowife will lose her roboshit when she finds out she's stuck with the robokids while he's doing extras in the robobubble.

 

[a_majoor]

Human potential is perhaps greater than we think:

http://gas2.org/2010/01/26/new-study-suggests-humans-could-run-as-fast-as-40-mph/

New Study Suggests Humans Could Run As Fast As 40 MPH

Written by Christopher DeMorro

Published on January 26th, 20105 CommentsPosted in Offbeat, Science


Rarely do we take the time to stop and consider just how complex and amazing our bodies are. It is understandable after all, as the busy world around us can be quite distracting. But the record breaking times set by Usain Bolt this past summer have piqued the interests of scientists in the perceived limits of the human body.

Where once the maximum top speed of a human being was thought to be around 28 mph, a new study suggests that a trained runner could achieve speeds of 40 mph, or perhaps even more. If true, it could mean that human-powered mobility might be more practical than previously thought.

The study, entitled “The biological limits to running speed are imposed from the ground up,” suggests that the human body might be even stronger than it is given credit for. Using a high speed treadmill, the researchers studied the force applied to the foot when running forwards, backwards, and hopping around on one foot. The top speed of a runner was thought to be limited by the amount of force a foot could take when coming in contact with the ground.

What the research found was that hopping around on one foot produced as much as 30% more force than running at full speed forward. They also found that the muscle contractile speeds on the leg set the limit for how fast a human can run, and their research suggests a maximum top speed of 35 to 40 mph.

Obviously only the best trained, most fit people can go even 20 mph or faster. But it certainly makes one wonder about the possibilities. Perhaps as we, as a species, come to better appreciate our bodies, we might figure out a way to get the most out of it and apply that to mass transit or personal transportation.

How cool would it be to be able to run at almost highway speeds though? Pretty cool, I reckon.

 

[vonGarvin]

Human biomechanics are such that we are built for endurance, not for speed.  Yes, we can run fast for very short distances, but as the ad says
"You can't go faster than a bullet, but a bullet can't go 42.2 km"

 

[TangoTwoBravo]

More on exoskeletons. The realistic exo's for soldiers will be rather form fitting rather than the monsterous contraptions in the movies Aliens or Avatar. Bayonet optional:

This should make the Vandoos happy.

 

[vonGarvin]

This should make the Vandoos happy.

/shudder/

 

[a_majoor]

Maybe the Vandoos can source their "exo's" elsewhere 

While normal humans are indeed built for endurance, the thrust of many of these articles is for means to increase human output. Exoskeletons, "powerboc" spring stilts or new biomechanical means of locomotion (highly modified running strides or whatever would raise human running speed to 40 mph) should allow a soldier to do more work or cover more ground with the same expenditure of energy. High speed approach marches carrying 72 hr worth of ammunition, food and water would be one possibility.

While you can't outrun a bullet, you might be able to make it to cover a lot faster.

 

[a_majoor]

Getting around in 3 dimensions:

http://nextbigfuture.com/2010/02/advancing-to-human-wall-crawling.html

Advancing to Human Wall Crawling

A palm-sized device invented at Cornell that uses water surface tension as an adhesive bond could enable humans to walk on walls like spiderman

The rapid adhesion mechanism could lead to such applications as shoes or gloves that stick and unstick to walls, or Post-it-like notes that can bear loads, according to Paul Steen, professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering, who invented the device with Michael Vogel, a former postdoctoral associate.

The device is the result of inspiration drawn from a beetle native to Florida, which can adhere to a leaf with a force 100 times its own weight, yet also instantly unstick itself. Research behind the device is published online Feb. 1 in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

The device consists of a flat plate patterned with holes, each on the order of microns (one-millionth of a meter). A bottom plate holds a liquid reservoir, and in the middle is another porous layer. An electric field applied by a common 9-volt battery pumps water through the device and causes droplets to squeeze through the top layer. The surface tension of the exposed droplets makes the device grip another surface -- much the way two wet glass slides stick together.

"In our everyday experience, these forces are relatively weak," Steen said. "But if you make a lot of them and can control them, like the beetle does, you can get strong adhesion forces."

The device is about to switched to lose adhesion

For example, one of the researchers' prototypes was made with about 1,000 300-micron-sized holes, and it can hold about 30 grams -- more than 70 paper clips. They found that as they scaled down the holes and packed more of them onto the device, the adhesion got stronger. They estimate, then, that a one-square-inch device with millions of 1-micron-sized holes could hold more than 15 pounds.

To turn the adhesion off, the electric field is simply reversed, and the water is pulled back through the pores, breaking the tiny "bridges" created between the device and the other surface by the individual droplets.

The research builds on previously published work that demonstrated the efficacy of what's called electro-osmotic pumping between surface tension-held interfaces, first by using just two larger water droplets.

One of the biggest challenges in making these devices work, Steen said, was keeping the droplets from coalescing, as water droplets tend to do when they get close together. To solve this, they designed their pump to resist water flow while it's turned off.

Steen envisions future prototypes on a grander scale, once the pump mechanism is perfected, and the adhesive bond can be made even stronger. He also imagines covering the droplets with thin membranes -- thin enough to be controlled by the pump but thick enough to eliminate wetting. The encapsulated liquid could exert simultaneous forces, like tiny punches.

"You can think about making a credit card-sized device that you can put in a rock fissure or a door, and break it open with very little voltage," Steen said. "It's a fun thing to think about."

 

[a_majoor]

More on human potential. It would be interesting to contemplate a PT program designed to build the average soldier close to the "human maximum" potential:

http://nextbigfuture.com/2010/06/any-athlete-with-vo2-max-over-90.html#more

Any Athlete with a VO2 Max Over 90 ml/kg/min will Be Assumed to be Cheating

There are new proposals being made to define the maximum human ability of certain characteristics like VO2 max or a cyclists power output and anyone over those limits would be assumed to be a cheater (using performance enhancement)

    The highest VO2 max figures on record - around 90 millilitres of oxygen per kilogram per minute - come from cross-country skiers and rowers, who use a high proportion of the muscles in their bodies. Elite cyclists generally score lower because their activity uses a smaller muscle mass

    Power output data was used to estimate the VO2 max of several riders on the climb of Alpe d'Huez - one of the longest and steepest on the route - over a number of years. A number of the riders had a VO2 max above 85 ml/kg/min, with some over 90 ml/kg/min.

    Tucker estimates that Lance Armstrong, the US rider who has won a record seven Tours, would have produced a VO2 max of between 88 and 97 ml/kg/min when he climbed Alpe d'Huez in 2004. Armstrong has not been found to have used performance-enhancing drugs

    Pierre Sallet, a physiologist and athletics coach in Lyon, France, has studied this approach for WADA. When analysing one climb in the Tour, Sallet observed a rider who produced an average power in excess of 480 W for more than 30 minutes, a level which he considers "beyond all norms" and reason to investigate further

These definitions also mean that people with a VO2 max of 91 ml/kg/min or more or have an average power output over 480 Watts for 30 minutes are transhuman or performance enhanced.

 

[jhk87]

Jump Company of Tomorrow!:

http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2009/12/look-out-below-wingsuits-pushed-for-airbone-assaults/

Perhaps they'll bring assault gliders back?

 

[daftandbarmy]

Perhaps they'll bring assault gliders back?

I'd settle for just getting the Airborne Regiment back!

 

[Kirkhill]

Wasting time today I came across these dated tidbits from the AdmMat site on Projects.  Are these numbers still current?


CCV Project Info Mar 2010

9 CCV-FOO
99 CCV-Inf
30 Options

CBT Tm of 19 CCV
1 Coy of 3x4 + 1x3 CCV-Inf (Coy HQ)
2 CCV-Inf (Eng Recce)
2 CCV-FOO

4 Active CBT Tms  2x 1PPCLI  2x 2RCR  (Matches with 4 Leo Squadrons)

Most interesting crewing requirement - 3 crew + MINIMUM 5 Assaulters

Looks like your sections are going to be getting smaller......?  Or is this just a planning exercise?


TAPV Project  Equipment List May 2010

Recce Variant 3 Crew (with respirators) 1 Surveillance Operator (without respirator  ;D) and one other "enabler" would be nice if possible....

Utility Variant 1 Sect Comd, 3 Riflemen, 1 Grenadier, 1 LMG gunner ......0 Crew Commander, 0 Driver, 0 Gunner, 0 Surv Ops.

Looks like your sections are going to be getting smaller......?  Or is this just a planning exercise?



Future Infantry might start to look like US Cavalry - Lots of Vehicles with 4-6 Dismounts (And I would bet on 4 rather than 6)

 

[Infanteer]

Hmmm...those numbers don't seem to jive with the distribution plans I've seen.

Hopefully the plan dies a quick death so the Infantry isn't burdened with 3 fleets of vehicles, all in the light to mid-weight armoured range.