One modern military weapon that is being more frequently used is the robot soldier. Yes, robots are taking over the roles that humans once had. Some of these jobs, such as getting rid of bombs or walking through minefields, have the potential to save many human lives. However, there’s a sinister side to all of this. Some of these robots are equipped with weapons.

Currently, a human being controls the armed robot soldiers. Disturbingly, scientists and engineers are talking about the possibility of a future where these robots become “unmanned” and operate on their own.

Continue reading →

The Boeing YAL-1 Airborne Laser (ABL) weapons system is a megawatt-class chemical oxygen iodine laser (COIL) mounted inside a modified Boeing 747-400F. It is primarily designed to destroy tactical ballistic missiles (TBMs), similar to the Scud, while in boost phase. The low-power lasers have been test-fired in flight, aimed at an airborne target board. The aircraft was designated YAL-1A in 2004 by the U.S. Department of Defense. The Airborne Laser Laboratory, a less-powerful prototype installed in a Boeing NKC-135A, shot down several missiles in the 1980s.

The ABL does not burn through or disintegrate its target. It heats the missile skin, weakening it, causing failure from high speed flight stress. If proven successful, seven ABL-armed 747s will be built and assigned to two combat theaters. The aircraft were originally slated to enter service in 2008, but development has been slower and costlier than planned. The current plan calls for a prototype ABL to attempt to shoot down a test missile in 2009. Data acquired in the test will shape the final production design, which is now expected to enter service several years from now.

Continue reading →

Dragon Skin body armor is a type of ballistic vest made by Pinnacle Armor. It is distinguished by its silver dollar-sized circular discs that overlap like scale armour, creating a flexible vest that allows a greater range of motion and can allegedly absorb more hits than standard military body armor. The discs are composed of a silicon carbide ceramic matrices and laminates, much like the larger ceramic plates in other types of bulletproof vests.

The armor is available in two basic protection levels: SOV-2000, which was certified as Level III protection (this certification was withdrawn, and Pinnacle is suing to force the NIJ to reinstate on the basis of its own private retesting) and SOV-3000, which is advertised as Level IV but has not yet been certified as such. Pinnacle Armor’s website also identifies a “Level V” variant, which does not correspond to any body armor standard and is not available to the general public.

Continue reading →

Yesterday, while I was listening to the music on my Sony Ericsson P990i. I wondered what is the lightest mobile phone in the world, does it exist? or it has not been invented yet. So I surfed the Internet and tried to look if it does really exist. And to my surprise, it really does, here it is. Introducing MODU, the world’s lightest phone ever made.

First of all, Modu is a tiny, sleek, sophisticated mobile phone. In fact, it’s the lightest phone in the world as approved by the Guinness book of world records.

You can use Modu to talk, SMS or listen to music stored on the built-in 1GB memory. Modu includes Bluetooth connectivity and can be used as a mass storage device.

Continue reading →

Many of use doesn’t mind what keyboard we use in our computing environment. But do you know that there are keyboards that cost thousands of dollars? If you still don’t know, I am glad to share this top 5 most expensive computer keyboard in the world.

1. HAPPY HACKING KEYBOARD HP JAPAN, PFU Ltd 525,000 yen
PFU Ltd of Ishikawa, Japan, an affiliate of Fujitsu, is producing the Happy Hacking Keyboard Professional HP Japan, a made-to-order keyboard handcoated with Urushi lacquer. This made to order keyboard is coated many times using a special brush made from the hairs of virgins, and then powdered with gold dust! The price for this expensive computer keyboard is a grand sum of 525,000 yen or about US $4,440.

Continue reading →