[OT] interesting stuff at DARPA (for your amusement)

Some interesting stuff DARPA is soliciting proposals on...

1) Warbots anyone?. By 2010, Future Combat Systems (FCS) is envisioned to
provide the Army with an affordable system capable of overwhelming lethality,
strategic
deployability, self-sustainment, and high survivability. As a separate
initiative managed by the DARPA Tactical Technology Office (TTO), FCS has
already begun to develop concepts, model, and prototype a rapidly
deployable, lightweight, multi-mission combat system heavily reliant on
robotics, distributed sensors, direct and indirect fire weapons, and C4ISR
functions. Additional information on FCS can be found at
<http://www.darpa.mil/fcs/index.html>. The effort described in this BAA
is
intended to progressively develop and demonstrate state-of-the-art
advancements in communications technology necessary to support the notional
FCS operational concept. FCS implicitly acknowledges an overriding need for
high data rate and low latency communications to support real-time FCS
fire control and robotic missions. Since FCS will operate in a hostile
electromagnetic environment, the communications system developed by this
program must provide robustness to jamming and possess low probability of
detection (LPD) characteristics. DARPA proposes to meet these opposing
constraints through a multi-tiered mobile ad hoc network utilizing both
directional antennas at low-band (e.g. Joint Tactical Radio System
(JTRS)
bands) and highly directional antennas at high-band (above microwave
frequencies). Providing the data rates, range, LPD, and robustness to jamming
necessary to meet FCS operational needs will require significant
advancements in low-band and high-band components (transmitters,
receivers, etc.), directional antenna technology which can be made suitable
for FCS platforms, and mobile ad hoc networking techniques utilizing
directional antennas. These mobile ad hoc networks are likely to be comprised
of airborne and terrestrial platforms, possibly deploying autonomously to
provide the needed coverage on a dynamic and ad hoc basis.

2) Nuclear Powered Grunts (or, where's the damn Energizer Bunny?)

The Department of Defense (DoD) has a pressing need for lighter and more
compact electrical power sources for soldier, robotic, and other emerging
applications. At present, batteries are used for these systems. While
batteries have many desirable features (air independent operation, low thermal
and acoustic signatures) the amount of energy that can be stored in primary or
rechargeable batteries will be insufficient to meet the needs of critical
future missions. While many improvements in battery technology are being made
and future advances are anticipated, the energy shortfall for many DoD
missions is expected to exceed a factor of ten if batteries alone
are used. Small energy conversion devices that convert high-energy
content fuels to electricity will be required to address this shortfall.

3) HAL9000 meet the Quantum Computer... The goal of the DARPA Quantum
Information Science and Technology (QuIST) program is to demonstrate advances
required for practical use of quantum logic and information in computing,
communications, and other applications.
Specific areas of interest include: (1) fault-tolerant algorithms and
architectures; (2) formulation of new algorithms and protocols for
ultra-secure communications, ultra-precise metrology,
information-bandwidth
enhancements; (3) the limits of quantum computation for speedups over
classical computation, and (4) computational applications for which quantum
computation offers significant advantage over known classical equivalents.
Concurrently with these fundamental advances, QuIST seeks to develop the
component technology for quantum computing and secure quantum communication
including the development of robust megahertz rate single photon sources and
detectors, practical implementations of single and multiple quantum bit logic
gates, quantum memory, and systems level constructs such as quantum repeaters.
The program is aimed at developing theory, hardware, and integrated
demonstrations that may include scalable assemblies of quantum
logic and memory, quantum teleportation-based communication,
ultra-precise
clock synchronization, communication of quantum information over large
distances, and network backbones based on coherent optical and quantum
techniques 4) Whosit? The Jigsaw Project will develop advanced LADAR systems
to be used for reliable Combat ID by a human. 5) Flying Drones anyone? This
program will define, design, develop, manufacture, integrate and demonstrate a
new, autonomous, affordable OAV to support the needs of FCS
for on-demand situational awareness capability for small units.
6) Bolos can't be far, can they?
The DARPA/ARMY UGCV program is one of several technologies supporting
the
DARPA/ARMY Future Combat Systems (FCS) program. This program will focus
on the development of robotic combat vehicles with revolutionary mobility and
resilience to augment technology trends in robotic control. This advanced
performance will be created by new design paradigms and technologies enabled
by an operational trade space unrestricted by human crews.