Space Industry and Business News  
New Technology To Neutralise IEDs

SPIKER, Special Purpose IED Killer Experimental Robot. Copyright: MoD Australia.
by Staff Writers
Canberra, Australia (SPX) Oct 31, 2008
The Minister for Defence Science and Personnel the Hon. Warren Snowdon MP has unveiled a new robot called SPIKER designed to counter improvised explosive devices (IED). The robot has been developed by the Defence Science and Technology Organisation (DSTO) and was demonstrated at the Land Warfare Conference in Brisbane.

"Innovations like this robot are part of DSTO's program to support our troops on operation in various theatres, particularly in the Middle East," Mr Snowdon said.

SPIKER, Special Purpose IED Killer Experimental Robot, is a remotely controlled tracked vehicle which deploys a number of different devices, including explosives, to render IEDs safe.

Also on display was another remotely controlled vehicle known as RASP (Remote Advanced Sensor Platform) which DSTO has developed to identify radioactive threats from a distance.

"These technologies are vital for carrying out dirty and dangerous work and helping to save the lives of our soldiers," Mr Snowdon said.

He said industry was also making innovative contributions to support soldiers through the Capability and Technology Demonstrator (CTD) Program.

Two technologies developed under the program and displayed at the conference included flexible solar panels to generate power during operations in the field; and a smart power management system which provides a miniature energy source for multiple devices carried by soldiers, so they can operate more effectively over longer periods with less weight.

"These are only some examples of innovative technologies that can be achieved when DSTO and industry work together to enhance Defence capability in priority areas," Mr Snowdon said.

"This financial year the total budget for the CTD program is over $25 million, with some 33 CTD projects in progress."

Related Links
Defence Science and Technology Organisation (DSTO)
The latest in Military Technology for the 21st century at SpaceWar.com



Memory Foam Mattress Review
Newsletters :: SpaceDaily :: SpaceWar :: TerraDaily :: Energy Daily
XML Feeds :: Space News :: Earth News :: War News :: Solar Energy News


Caiman design deflects IEDs in Iraq
Yethrib, Iraq (UPI) Oct 30, 2008
The 38,000-pound Caiman armored vehicles stopped at the fringe of this rural village and disgorged a group of U.S. soldiers and Iraqi police. Their mission: seek out and detain a half-dozen men wanted by the Iraqi government for terrorism-related offenses.







  • China tells Microsoft to rethink 'black-out' anti-piracy tactics: report
  • US tech giants join move to protect freedom of speech online
  • Workers Discover A Second Life At Work
  • Free US wireless network a step closer

  • New ASTRA 1M Satellite Ready For Launch On 6 November
  • First Ariane 5 For 2009 Arrives At The Spaceport
  • SPACEHAB Sees Opportunity In Space Florida's Launch Complex
  • European science satellite launch delayed until at least February

  • Boeing sees China buying 3,710 planes over next 20 years
  • New EU CO2 caps anger airlines
  • Energy Department has high school contest
  • Researchers Scientists Perform High Altitude Experiments

  • USAF Tests Battlespace Information Solution On AC-130 Gunship
  • Harris Awarded Contract For USAF Satellite Control Network Program
  • LockMart Delivers Key Hardware For US Navy's Mobile User Objective System
  • Boeing JTRS GMR Engineering Model Enters New Test Phase

  • The Sky Isn't Falling And That's A Problem
  • Sarantel Antenna Featured In New Iridium 9555 Satellite Phone
  • NASA Launches IBEX Mission To Outer Solar System
  • MSV Awarded Patents For Next-Gen Satellite-Terrestrial Comms Network

  • Berndt Feuerbacher New President Of IAU
  • Orbital Appoints Frank Culbertson And Mark Pieczynski To Management
  • Chris Smith Named Director Of Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory
  • AsiaSat Appoints New General Manager China

  • Arctic Sea Ice Thinning At Record Rate
  • NASA-Enhanced Dust Storm Predictions To Aid Health Community
  • GeoEye Releases First Image Collected By GeoEye-1
  • Maps Shed Light On CO2's Global Nature

  • North Las Vegas Fire Department Launches Enterprise GIS Platform
  • Consumer Reports Test Latest GPS Navigators
  • NCC Display New Lines Of Goodyear-Branded GPS Navigation Systems
  • Sprint Customers Use GPS To Locate Loved Ones

  • The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright Space.TV Corporation. AFP and UPI Wire Stories are copyright Agence France-Presse and United Press International. ESA Portal Reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space.TV Corp on any Web page published or hosted by Space.TV Corp. Privacy Statement