Using Nanotech To Monitor Suspected Terrorists And Insurgents

Army Plans To Use Nanotech To Monitor Terrorists -- Times of India

NEW DELHI: Army plans to induct new-age gadgets such as micro audio bugs and video devices to keep a watch on terrorist hideouts and their meeting places and activities, apparently taking a leaf out of James Bond flicks.

"Possible nanotechnology applications are micro-audio bugs and video recording devices with high capacity data storage to plant at likely meeting places of terrorists, over ground agents and sympathisers," army said on the possible uses of nanotechnology products in the 'Technology Perspective and Capability Roadmap' for the defence ministry.

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My Comment: Surveillance, intelligence, and information gathering is becoming the largest growth area for the military and accompanying intelligence organizations. Using nanotech devices will only expand their role and importance.

Nanotechnology Goes To War

Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of microcogs forming a microgear mechanism. Photograph: David Parker/Science Photo Library

From The Guardian:

Wouldn't it be handy if everything we needed to build the next generation of portable devices and robots were available on a microchip? You could just plug in a navigation system, a radar sensor, cryogenic cooling system, or even a miniature power unit. For laboratory applications, there would be micro versions of everything from mass spectrometers to magnetic sensors. The Defence Advanced Research Projects Agency (Darpa), the Pentagon's extreme science wing, aims to provide all this, and more, in handy "matchbook size" electronic packages.

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My Comment: A good review of this emerging field. I expect more articles on this topic to be published in the near future.

Update: Battlechips: Darpa's Next-Gen Micromachines -- The Danger Room

Introducing The Gel-Filled Army Helmet That Will Crush Bullets As They Penetrate It

Richard Palmer, CEO of Blue Divine Ltd, with 'D3O' shock-absorbing material which will be used to line new British Army helmets

From The Daily Mail:

On the face of it a layer of orange jelly may not sound the best way to protect a soldier's head from high velocity bullets and shrapnel.

But the British Army's standard-issue combat helmet is set to be upgraded with a liner made from gooey miracle gel, which responds to a sudden impact by locking instantly into a solid form - absorbing huge amounts of energy harmlessly.

A UK-based technology company was today celebrating a £100,000 contract from the Ministry of Defence to develop its D3O shock-absorbing gel to help save the lives of British troops fighting on the frontline in Afghanistan.

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My Comment: The use of nanotechnology at a basic level.