Army Dissects Black Hawk Helo, Scans Parts For 3D Printing

Army Dissects Black Hawk Helo, Scans Parts For 3D Printing
Army Dissects Black Hawk Helo, Scans Parts For 3D Printing

Before you can 3D print a part, you need a detailed 3D model of it. So Army Material Command is figuring out how to scan tens of thousands of parts. One method: pull apart an entire helicopter.

Army’s 3D Printing Hub Will Be Rock Island: Gen. Perna

Army’s 3D Printing Hub Will Be Rock Island: Gen. Perna
Army’s 3D Printing Hub Will Be Rock Island: Gen. Perna

The upgraded arsenal will be the flagship of a much larger move towards advanced manufacturing across the Army. The goal: streamlining supply chains for major war.

From Google Cars To Robot Tanks: Army RCV

From Google Cars To Robot Tanks: Army RCV
From Google Cars To Robot Tanks: Army RCV

The Google Car and Tesla Autopilot have blazed a trail for the future Army. Both robotics technology and Army thinking have come a long way since 2009, when Defense Secretary Bob Gates cancelled the massive Future Combat Systems program. Where FCS tried to invent new technology on a schedule for 19 different manned and unmanned…

Vietnam-Vintage Vehicles Blaze Trail For Robot Tanks: Army RCV

Vietnam-Vintage Vehicles Blaze Trail For Robot Tanks: Army RCV
Vietnam-Vintage Vehicles Blaze Trail For Robot Tanks: Army RCV

The actual Robotic Combat Vehicle that gets mass-produced and fielded by 2028 will be an all-new design, not a converted M113. But why wait for someone to design and build the perfect hardware, when you can start testing the software and the tactics on something cheaply available today?

Army Secretary Rides Robot Truck: ‘Critical’ Tech For Big Six

Army Secretary Rides Robot Truck: ‘Critical’ Tech For Big Six
Army Secretary Rides Robot Truck: ‘Critical’ Tech For Big Six

“If you look back at the Iraq war, one of the most dangerous duties was driving, riding in a convoy between Kuwait City and Baghdad. We lost many, many soldiers, too many soldiers, to IED (roadside bomb) attacks, other attacks on convoys,” Esper said. “I could’ve reduced that vulnerability, that sacrifice, (with) unmanned convoys or convoys that were manned by (only) a couple of soldiers.”

US, UK Test Robot Breachers, Drones In Germany

US, UK Test Robot Breachers, Drones In Germany
US, UK Test Robot Breachers, Drones In Germany

This week’s experiment used a small zoo of specialized systems remote-controlled by humans, each with its own modest niche, working closely with each other and human forces.

Army Issues RFP For $6 Billion M113 Replacement: Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicle Program

WASHINGTON: After 53 years in service, the Army’s M113 armored transport might finally get replaced. Last night, the Michigan-based Tank-Automotive Command (TACOM) issued a draft Request For Proposals for a new Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicle. The final RFP is expected in June and the contract award in mid-2014. Variants of the General Dynamics Stryker and the…