Bailey Total Building Envelope’s Post

The so-called "wild fires" in Los Angeles, California, could only have been ignited by "directed-energy weapons", better known as laser beams. If you wish to see how such weapons work, here is a video about them: https://lnkd.in/dsDicK5M

#DisruptiveTech 🔴 Extending Maritime Reach with Autonomous Fleets of Small, Uncrewed Platforms In the unpredictable realm of naval warfare, the U.S. Navy is turning to uncrewed systems to maintain its edge. As adversaries expand their fleets, these autonomous platforms are crucial for power projection and mission success. Northrop Grumman, a leader in uncrewed autonomous systems (UAS), is at the forefront of this transformation. Their latest innovations, Helix and Scion, are set to revolutionize commercial uncrewed platforms into robust combat and surveillance systems. During the Silent Swarm 2024 exercise at the Naval Surface Warfare Center, these technologies showcased their ability to enhance maritime domain awareness and effectively track and target elements in real-world scenarios. The US Navy is exploring cutting-edge technologies to extend the range of its communications and electronic warfare (EW) capabilities using uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs) and uncrewed surface vehicles (USVs). Scion, a multifunction EW payload, is designed for surface operations and integrates seamlessly with commercial USV platforms. Helix combines various uncrewed platforms, payloads, and software for autonomous, multi-domain operations, supported by digital twin solutions that offer a dynamic, 3D view of the battlespace. In 2023, Northrop Grumman developed an initial proof of concept for Scion’s capabilities. Building on this success, the Silent Swarm 2024 exercise saw five uncrewed systems in the air and two on the surface working collaboratively to locate target vessels. This exercise demonstrated the synergy between a USV equipped with the Scion EW payload and UAVs controlled by Helix, providing a comprehensive, real-time view of the mission landscape. Tyler Dillstrom, chief engineer for Helix, highlighted the system’s ability to detect and track radio frequency emissions over water, showcasing the power of autonomous software in coordinating USVs and UAVs. Future maritime missions will rely on the ability to command diverse fleets of uncrewed vehicles with various payloads. Northrop Grumman’s efforts at Silent Swarm underscore their commitment to digital engineering, enabling quicker and more affordable deployment of solutions. By simulating scenarios in a digital environment, they ensure program affordability and first-time quality, continuing their legacy of innovation. #ASDNews #NavalWarfare #AutonomousSystems #NorthropGrumman #SilentSwarm2024 #MaritimeInnovation #UncrewedVehicles #DefenseTech #FutureOfWarfare Campaign Catapult, Pravo Consulting

We ask so much of those who serve at the edge, but are we doing enough when the toll catches up? A New York Times article highlights the hidden cost of high-stress roles—silent injuries like memory loss, anxiety, and depression. For fighter pilots, divers, and others, brain injuries don’t always look like concussions; they manifest quietly, disrupting lives over time. At Spearhead, we see these stories daily. Those who pushed their limits in service are too often left to bear the invisible burden alone. To those who wonder if they’ve pushed too far: you’re not alone. Your health matters, and we’re here to help. Check in on yourself and your teammates—because the cost of service should never be silence. #InvisibleInjuries #MentalHealthAwareness #BrainHealth #VeteranSupport #MilitaryMentalHealth #PushingLimits #CareForOurHeroes #ServiceConnection #BeyondTheUniform #VeteransHealth #SupportOurTroops #HealingTogether 

Dazzling damselfish: investigating motion dazzle as a defence strategy in humbug damselfish (Dascyllus aruanus) - PeerJ https://lnkd.in/gAPZ5u4b

🚑 Ukrainian Ingenuity in Saving Lives 🚑 Ingenious and ever-resourceful Ukrainians have developed groundbreaking unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs) to evacuate the wounded without risking additional lives. Watch the video below. 📷 Video Highlights: - russia targets medics near the front lines, making their life-saving work extremely dangerous. Brave combat medics, like 25-year-old Iryna Tsybukh, who was tragically killed just days before her birthday, exemplify the risks taken to save lives. - Since the start of the full-scale invasion, there have been over 1,500 attacks by russia on healthcare facilities and first-responder personnel in Ukraine. - Drone Warfare: Innovative UGVs are now starting to evacuate Ukraine's wounded, reducing human risk. - Technological Innovation: Ukrainian companies have created UGVs to transport injured soldiers, providing a safer alternative to traditional armored vehicles. 🇺🇦 These UGVs demonstrate the resourcefulness and resilience of Ukrainians in medical evacuations. They transport the injured without humans unnecessarily risking their lives. 🇺🇦 #MedicalInnovation #UkrainianGenius #LifesavingTech #UGVsForGood #Savingthosewhosaveothers

The IDF is deploying Rafael’s Sentry Tech system in sensitive areas of Judea and Samaria, featuring observation towers with remote-controlled machine guns.

We ask our best to push the limits, but are we doing enough to take care of them when the toll adds up?    A recent NYT article shines light on a deeply under-recognized issue: the silent impact of repeated, high-stress exposure for fighter pilots. For years, physical and mental wear and tear—what some call the cost of service—has gone under-addressed or misinterpreted. Brain injuries, whether from combat, flight maneuvers, or extreme environments, don’t always look like concussions. They show up in slow, quiet ways: memory loss, anxiety, depression, and personality changes.    At Spearhead, we see this story far too often. The men and women who pushed their minds and bodies to their limits—whether flying jets, deep sea diving, or enduring blast waves—are left to navigate the invisible consequences alone.     If you’re in a role where pushing the limit is standard, you don’t have to push through it alone. Reach out for resources, share your story, or simply take a moment to check in on yourself and those around you.     #BrainInjuryAwareness #MilitarySupport #VeteranWellness #TOPGUN #VeteranBenefits #SpearheadSupport https://lnkd.in/gwZcieAi

This morning, the #EUNPDC2024 opened with three exciting parallel sessions on the #nonproliferation agenda in #Asia-Pacific, the risks of an #arms race in #space, and the dynamics of conflict and risks of #proliferation in the #MiddleEast. The parallel sessions continue with the challenges facing conventional arms control, the place of emerging technologies in the discipline of arms control itself, and the future of #biologicalweapons. 

The US Marine Corps’ M27 infantry automatic rifles could soon receive sophisticated counter-drone attachments. This as the Marine Corps Systems Command issued a formal notice to potential vendors who can deliver rifle-mounted solutions for detecting, identifying, tracking, and defeating hostile drones. These include radio frequency and global positioning system jammers, ammunition, and advanced rifle optics that lock onto an incoming drone. According to the notice, the attachment should allow infantrymen to effectively defend themselves against group 1 and 2 unmanned aerial systems (UAS). Group 1 UAS refers to drones weighing less than 20 pounds (9.1 kilograms) such as the RQ-11 Raven, while Group 2 drones are those that weigh 21 to 55 pounds (9.5 to 25 kilograms) like Boeing’s ScanEagle.

🛫 Autonomous Air Combat: A New Frontier The U.S. Air Force has successfully tested autonomous planes over California, with AI agents flying the X62 Vista during a simulated dogfight against a human-piloted F-16. The test demonstrated the capability of AI in air-to-air combat, with safety pilots on board as a precaution, but no safety switch activation was needed. This breakthrough, part of DARPA's Air Combat Evolution (ACE) program, indicates significant progress in autonomous air combat technology. ⚙️ The Transition from Simulation to Reality The press release mentions the AI-controlled flights were performed in December 2022 above Edwards Air Force Base, California, with initial safety protocols transitioning to offensive maneuvers. This led to 21 test flights with over 100,000 lines of flight-critical software changes. DARPA's ACE program aims to develop trusted, scalable human-level AI-driven autonomy for air combat, focusing on collaborative dogfights with human pilots. 💣 Ethical Implications and Military Impact The deployment of AI in air combat has implications for warfare, with autonomous drones capable of flying to specific locations, selecting targets, and engaging without human assistance. This advancement has benefits from a military perspective, reducing vulnerability to attacks like jamming or hacking, but raises ethical questions about autonomous weapons. The discussion extends to the implications of AI-driven weapon systems, addressing the balance between precision and collateral damage. 💭 Industry Trends and Controversies The video explores broader industry trends, highlighting the influence of tech investors like Andreessen Horowitz and Peter Thiel. The discussion touches on the controversies surrounding military-facing startups and the ethical challenges posed by AI in weapon systems. Palmer Luckey, founder of Anduril and Oculus Rift, discusses the balance between autonomy and ethical considerations, emphasizing the potential benefits of more precise and ethical weapon systems. 📷 MidJourney and AI-generated Images The video also delves into AI-generated imagery, showcasing MidJourney, a text-to-image AI generation tool. The discussion covers new styles and unique outputs generated using various prompts, illustrating the creativity and versatility of AI in the artistic realm. #DARPA #AIpilotedF16 #AirCombatEvolution #AutonomousAirCombat #AIWeaponSystems #MilitaryTechnology #MidJourney #EthicsInAI #AutonomousDrones #DefenseTechTrends