ECN Editors
Navy launches first aircraft using electromagnetic system
December 23, 2010 5:57 am | by Jason Lomberg, Technical Editor | Blogs | CommentsThe Navy made history on December 18 when it launched its first rollercoaster, er, aircraft, using the Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS) technology. The F/A-18 Super Hornet, piloted by Lt. Daniel Radocaj, was launched from Naval Air Systems Command, Lakehurst, N.J.
The “all-digital future”: Surrendering our property rights
December 13, 2010 7:46 am | by Jason Lomberg, Technical Editor | Articles | CommentsWe keep hearing about it—the “all-digital future”: easier, more convenient, no need to drive to the store. Download all the content you want instantly. Thus, iTunes, OnLive, Steam, and various other services were born. But this convenience bears a steep price. In our rush to embrace the all-digital future, we’ve sacrificed fundamental property rights.
ECN in 2011
December 9, 2010 7:21 am | by Alix L. Paultre, Editor-in-Chief | Articles | CommentsAs most of you know, ECN made some significant changes to itself over the last few years. We don’t intend to stop developing ourselves anytime soon. As part of our migration to our new print format and our expanded presence online, we have created many new editorial sections and expanded our footprint to encompass more of what you want to see and discover.
Gifts for geeks
December 1, 2010 7:25 am | by Jason Lomberg, Technical Editor | Articles | CommentsIt’s that time of year again! No, I’m not talking about Jolly ‘Ol Saint Nick, mistletoe, or trees with stars on top. ‘Tis the season for giving, but also for spoiling ourselves with the latest gadgets, gizmos, toys, and entertainment. We’re never too old to experience the joy of opening presents!
A look forward from electronica
November 16, 2010 5:53 am | Articles | CommentsWith electronica now receding in our collective rearview mirrors, we can look forward along the road we are travelling into the future and think about what we saw at the event that will help us along the way. Trade shows can be a great way to discover where we are and where we are heading.
Air Force wants tougher, ''more survivable'' drones
November 8, 2010 4:27 am | by Jason Lomberg, Technical Editor | Blogs | CommentsThe U.S. military wants its next-generation RPVs to be more survivable in “contested airspace.” At a breakfast with reporters in DC, Lt. Gen. Philip Breedlove (the Air Force’s chief of operations, plans and requirements) noted the MQ-9 Reaper’s shortcomings, and stressed the need for tougher, more durable RPVs.
Looking back on the year that was
November 1, 2010 8:57 am | Articles | CommentsConsidering the tumult in the last several years, from disruptive technologies to political discord to financial meltdown and market re-adjustments, it’s kind of hard to say that 2010 was notable. Yet there are many things that mark this year that will make it a memorable one.
Lockheed Martin showcases incredible “HULC”
November 1, 2010 5:46 am | by Jason Lomberg, Technical Editor | Blogs | CommentsAt the recent Association of the U.S. Army conference in D.C., Lockheed Martin showcased its Human Universal Load Carrier (HULC), the defense giant’s answer to Raytheon’s XOS-2 exoskeleton (the “Real Iron Man Suit”). That’s right: it’s HULC vs. Iron Man.
Canada gets cold feet over F-35
October 19, 2010 9:53 am | by Jason Lomberg, Technical Editor | Blogs | CommentsA report released by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives calls Canada’s planned procurement of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter “fundamentally flawed.” According to the CCPA, “Canada does not need the F-35, either for North American/domestic roles or for expeditionary roles.”
Just around the corner
October 19, 2010 7:56 am | by Alix Paultre, Editor-in-Chief | Articles | CommentsI recently saw a very exciting-sounding news item on nuclear fusion research from The National Institute for Fusion Science (NIFS) on their new Large Helical Device (LHD), a variation on the Tokamak that is also the largest superconductor in the world.
Raytheon unveils wearable exoskeleton suit
September 28, 2010 12:20 pm | by Jason Lomberg, Technical Editor | Blogs | CommentsCoinciding with the release of Iron Man 2 on Blu-Ray/DVD, Raytheon unveiled a real-life wearable robotic suit. The second-generation exoskeleton (XOS 2) purportedly is lighter, faster and stronger than its predecessor, yet it uses 50 percent less power. Before one conjures Sci-Fi fantasies of space marines, it’s worth pointing out what the XOS 2 is not—it isn’t a futuristic robotic battle suit.
Consumer rights: Court rules against used software sales
September 13, 2010 10:42 am | by Jason Lomberg, Technical Editor | Articles | CommentsThe 9th Circuit of Appeals has reaffirmed the right of software companies to circumvent the first-sale doctrine by “licensing” rather then “selling” its products. The significance of this ruling cannot be overstated—it could singlehandedly destroy the used software market.
“Grey Eagle” UAS to deploy to Afghanistan
September 8, 2010 7:58 am | by Jason Lomberg, Technical Editor | Blogs | CommentsWeaponized versions of the MQ-1C “Grey Eagle” Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) will begin deploying to Afghanistan in the fall. Formerly known as the Sky Warrior, Grey Eagle is the Army’s answer to the Predator. In recent tests at the National Training Center, the Grey Eagle’s on-board laser designator performed flawlessly.
Interning to the next level
August 30, 2010 8:17 am | by Lauren DeStefano, Editorial Intern | Articles | CommentsMy name is Lauren DeStefano and I am going to be a senior at William Paterson University. I have been interning for the past two months with ECN Magazine. Applying to internships was a tedious process. It’s hard to keep track of all the resumes and cover letters I sent to various companies.
Drones to be equipped with HD cameras?
August 30, 2010 7:17 am | by Jason Lomberg, Technical Editor | Blogs | CommentsThe Consumer Electronics industry is already discussing glasses-free 3D televisions. But for Airmen monitoring drone feeds, they’re forced to stare at grainy, SD video. Yet according to a piece in the Air Force Times, the times they are a-changin’—the military may soon have HD cameras on drones.
To boldly go where no dilettante has gone before
August 27, 2010 8:03 am | by Alix Paultre, Editor-in-Chief | Articles | CommentsOnce Burt Rutan's Scaled Composites announced the maiden flight of SpaceShipTwo, it was only a matter of time before Virgin Galactic would start selling tickets to space in earnest. This is great news for the development of commercial space, representing the first private steps into a new frontier.
Lockheed Martin receives “contract modification” for F-22
August 25, 2010 6:13 am | by Jason Lomberg, Technical Editor | Blogs | CommentsLockheed Martin announced that it had received a $111.4 million contract modification from the U.S. Air Force for the 2010 Follow-On Agile Sustainment for the Raptor (FASTeR) sustainment contract. FASTeR entails support for the F-22 fleet, including training systems, customer support, integrated support planning, supply chain management, aircraft modifications and heavy maintenance...
Get off the fence on net neutrality
August 24, 2010 9:49 am | by Chris Warner, Executive Editor | Articles | CommentsSince I last wrote about Net Neutrality, things have gone from unsettling to downright precarious. On August 9, when many Americans were on vacation, Verizon and Google announced “A joint policy proposal for an open internet,” which was breathtaking in its brazenness and frightening in scope.
New government mandate: FM chips in all mobile phones
August 18, 2010 7:04 am | by Jason Lomberg, Technical Editor | Articles | CommentsFor years, radio broadcasters and artists have duked it out over performance rights. Enter the highly-contentious Performance Rights Act, which would expand copyright law to include all public performances of copyrighted sound recordings. And it’s gotten even wilder: an amendment would mandate that all mobile phones contain FM radio chips.
Israel approves purchase of F-35
August 16, 2010 7:27 am | by Jason Lomberg, Technical Editor | Blogs | CommentsAs reported by Defense Talk, Israel has agreed to purchase 20 F-35 Joint Strike Fighters in a deal worth an estimated 2.75 billion dollars. At $96 million a piece, this would be the most expensive weapons deal ever signed by Israel. As the Swiss Army Knife of fighter jets, and the bulwark of the free world for the next 40 years (not to sound hyperbolic)...
The future, according to Michio Kaku
August 11, 2010 7:01 am | by Jason Lomberg, Technical Editor | Articles | CommentsWhen Michio Kaku speaks, people listen. The theoretical physicist boasts an impressive resume: B.S. from Harvard, Ph.D. from Berkeley, co-creator of string field theory, best-selling author, and radio host. And so it came to pass that on the third day of NI Week, Dr. Kaku regaled the masses with his earthly wisdom.
Common ground
August 9, 2010 5:31 am | by Alix Paultre, Editorial Director | Articles | CommentsI recently came across an interesting news item in Wired about how the EU was adopting the Universal Charging Solution (UCS) cell-phone power interface. USB has been a kind of power lingua franca for smart phones, but that ubiquitous interface is burdened by a plethora of connector styles.
Air Force experiments with ''gesture recognition'' technology
July 29, 2010 10:09 am | by Jason Lomberg, Technical Editor | Blogs | CommentsWired has a piece discussing the Air Force Research Laboratory’s experiments with motion sense technology. Using a device similar to Nintendo’s “Power Glove”, the folks over at Wright Patterson AFB feel that “gesture recognition” can help fly planes. According to the labs, “Warfighter productivity is limited by the need to operate equipment via physical keys, switches, and buttons...
iPhone “jailbreaking” exempt from DMCA
July 28, 2010 6:26 am | by Jason Lomberg, Technical Editor | Articles | CommentsThe feds have just dropped a bomb: The Library of Congress has added exemptions to the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) that make “jailbreaking” legal. Apart from fundamentally altering Apple’s business model, the ruling has re-opened the schism between supporters and opponents of digital rights management.
Regulations and responsibility
July 20, 2010 7:54 am | by Alix Paultre, Editorial Director, ECN | Articles | CommentsIs the designer responsible for the effects of the device created? Is the manufacturer? What about the salesperson or the marketing department creating the demand? Is the user ultimately responsible? Every tool and technology, no matter how mundane, has effects beyond the intended function.
