pentagon

Robots

Insect Cyborgs Could Replace Smoke Detectors

8:00AM Jack Loftus | The Pentagon is known for its ominous pet projects, but here’s one we can honestly say doesn’t have us losing any sleep: Cyborg crickets. More »
Robots

Pentagon’s Robot Hummingbird Christened “Nano Air Vehicle”

10:00AM Dan Nosowitz | The Pentagon’s wacky sci-fi department DARPA has been working on robotic hummingbird-based drones to serve as miniature spies. They’re not nearly as agile or adorable as real hummingbirds, but DARPA is well on their way to achieving that dream. More »
Weapons

Pentagon’s New “Suburb Warrior” UAVs Promise To Try To Kill Slightly Fewer Civilians

2:30PM Dan Nosowitz | The Pentagon’s current crop of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are insanely powerful—the “Hellfire” is so named for a reason—but also fairly imprecise, often killing innocent, nearby civilians. The DoD’s new UAVs hope to cut down on such casualties. More »
Online

Pentagon to Create Cyber Command to Hopefully Avoid More Cybersecurity Screwups

2:30PM Dan Nosowitz | After unidentified hackers made away with untold amounts of protected data on a highly-classified fighter jet project, the Pentagon decided to step up their cybersecurity. The first step? Creating the badass-sounding Cyber Command.
Online

Cyber-Spies Hack Into Ultra-Sensitive Pentagon Fighter Jet Project

3:15PM Dan Nosowitz | Computer spies have broken into the Pentagon’s $US300 billion Joint Strike Fighter project and made off with several terabytes of code. The Pentagon, and consequently the Wall Street Journal, suspects Chinese involvement. More »
Weapons

The Pentagon’s EXACTO Rifle Will Be Able to Take Out Pirates A Mile Away

3:30PM Dan Nosowitz | The EXACTO (EXtreme ACcuracy Tasked Ordnance) rifle will conceivably be able to fire accurately at far longer distances than are possible now by combating weather with self-guiding bullets. Yes, you read that right. More »
Gadgets

Pentagon Mitex Satellites Are the First to Actively Spy… On Other Satellites!

8:30AM Jack Loftus | Quis custodiet ipsos custodes? If we’re talking spy satellites, the answer this week became “U.S. satellites,” two of which completed a first-of-its kind manoeuvre that had wide-ranging ramifications for all satellites currently in orbit. More »
Design

Pentagon Goes Green With 4,000 LED Installation

3:00AM Jack Loftus | Apparently, even the tough-as-nails Pentagon, home of the Department of Defence, has a soft spot for green technology, as word comes to us today that 4,000 LED fixtures will illuminate the building’s Wedge 5. More »
Peripherals

The Pentagon Bans USB Flash Drives: Will There Be a Floppy Disk Comeback?

7:30AM Gizmodo US Edition | AP reports that the Department of Defence has, at least for the time being, banned USB flash drives and is collecting all Pentagon-owned drives from the entire department. The Pentagon hasn’t issued an official statement, but a spokesman did say that they are dealing with a “global virus” that affects such external storage. Apparently, Department of Defence lackeys are being told that they may not get their drives back, and no information has been given regarding the length of the ban. A list of items now banned from the Pentagon after the jump. More »
Robots

The Future is Coming to a Robot Near You (Or Behind, Rather)

10:45AM Gizmodo US Edition | The Pentagon and the Department of Defence has recently put in a request to contractors for a multi-robot pursuit system to search and track down “non-cooperative humans.” The military is worried that controlling robots will take time away from defence officials so creating a pack-hunting AI that will do it automatically will be useful. Once the system is perfected, government officials expect it to become autonomous and armed. Maybe next time, you’ll think twice about littering or about to make a “California” stop. That’s exactly what this economy needs anyways: a good use of taxpayers’ dollars to replace more jobs. [New Scientist] More »