China conducted the first test flight of its next-generation JL-3 submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) in late November, according to report published on the Washington Free Beacon website on 18 December.
Citing unnamed defence officials, the test firing was detected by US missile-launch warning satellites and monitored by US intelligence agencies.
Kroger has launched a self driving vehicle based service for grocery delivery in Arizona with Nuro's help.
Levandowski, the troublesome ex Google, ex Uber self driving car engineer who founded a church that believes AI is the savior, claims to have ridden a self driving car from the Atlantic to the Pacific, over 3000 miles.
A Lyft patent shows how their self driving cars might communicate.
A Robotic rice planter is being sent to the fields.
Toyota has invested in the autonomous ship company, Sea Machine Robotics.
The Velox robot skates over ice, but does so in way that creeps some people out.
Waitrose and Partner's parent company is testing in robotic farming equipment.
Walmart is rolling out 360 mopping robots as janitors for its stores by the end of January. The same robots are in use at airports in Boston, Miami, San Diego, and Seattle,
Walmart is also supposed to be testing a burger flipping robot.
Youbionic has added 3d printed arms to a Boston Dynamics Mini Spot robot.
Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC) has won NASA approval to begin full-scale production of its Dream Chaser cargo spacecraft scheduled to make its first flight in about two years.
The company announced Dec. 18 that it completed a milestone in its Commercial Resupply Services (CRS) 2 contract called Integrated Review 4. With that milestone, the company is cleared to move ahead into assembly of the Dream Chaser vehicle that will deliver cargo to the station.
“NASA’s acknowledgement that SNC has completed this critical milestone and its approval of full production of the first Dream Chaser spacecraft is a major indication we are on the right path toward increasing vital science return for the industry,” John Curry, CRS-2 program director at the company, said in a statement announcing the milestone.
Anyone studiously following the process of Russian military professionalization would notice that 384,000 is the very same number given by Defense Minister Sergey Shoygu almost exactly two years ago.
Crossing out of Africa was not difficult because the Arabian peninsula was green.
Hominins were not the cause the megafaunal extinctions in Africa, rather climate and the expansion of the grasslands were. Unless, of course, the evidence for H. erectus purposefully expanding the grasslands with fire are accurate.
How did human language arise? We don't really know.
How did members of the genus Homo survive in east Africa from paleolithic to mesolithic?
A Russian site and its dating from the Upper Paleolithic is discussed and explored more.
H. sapiens:
The Lago Santa people had African-like features and were possibly Clovis culture descendants. The peopling of South and Central America turned out to be fairly complicated.
The peopling of the Americas is getting a lot of interest once more with genetic studies.
Multiple types of projectiles found in Texas hint at potentially multiple migrations into the Americas. Note: this could also be an example of a transition from one projectile point technology to another.
It seems the dispersals into the AMericas were more complex and hint at an Australasian component.
U-Pb dating of flowstones from South Africa constrains the dates hominins were evolving there and shows they were living in dry climate conditions.
Trabecular Bone Fraction gets compared between modern humans, hominins and other primates.
The stone tool gripping abilities of modern humans, hominins and apes are compared.
3d analysis of bone tools sheds some light on how they were made and used.
Three plus different hominins coexisted in the early Pleistocene ~2 million years ago in the Omo-Turkana Basin (P. bosei, H.habilis and H. erectus. possibly H. rudolfensis as well).
What was the dietary diversity of early Pleistocene hominins?
The trabecular structure of the distal femur is compared between humans, apes and baboons is compared.
The union cabinet on Thursday approved a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between India and Russia on joint activities under human spaceflight programme
India and Russia will strengthen cooperation in space programmes, including manned space missions, under a memorandum of understanding signed between the two countries in October.
The MoU will provide an impetus for development of technologies and advanced systems required for the human space flight programmes, such as radiation shielding, life support systems, crew module, rendezvous and docking systems, space suit, training for astronauts etc.
The MoU will lead to a joint activity in the field of application of space technologies for the benefit of humanity. It will also help in the setting up of a joint working group, which will further work out the plan of action, including the time-frame and the means of implementing the provisions of the agreement.
According to an industry source, quoted in the Russian media, the 2018-2027 State Armament Program includes construction of two additional Project 955A/Borey-A submarines. This will bring the number of submarines of the Project 955 class to ten by 2028. The source said that five submarines will be based in the Northern Fleet and five - in the Pacific. He also suggested that the construction of the Borey submarines will continue after 2027, since it is unlikely that the Project 667BDRM subs will be able to remain in service that long. (Back in May 2018, it was suggested that Russia may build six additional Project 955A submarines, bringing the total to 14.)
USA Today reports that NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine believes the SpaceX Crew Dragon flight test scheduled for Jan. 7 will likely slip into spring.
That would mean the mission, which will not have a crew aboard for its flight to the International Space Station, would launch no sooner than the first day of spring on March 20.
The United States on Tuesday formally accused Russia of violating a major arms control treaty, taking the first step to leaving the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty — which could lead to the eventual placement of ground-based cruise missiles in Europe.
Speaking at NATO headquarters, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said: “The United States today declares it has found Russia in material breach of the treaty and will suspend our obligations as a remedy, effective in 60 days, unless Russia returns to full and verifiable compliance.”
The decision to “suspend” is key, signaling that the U.S. has not yet made the full decision to withdraw from the agreement. Regardless of this 60-day window, the Trump administration can announce it is withdrawing at any time, but must include a six-month notice period to officially exit the treaty, per the language of the agreement.
General Atomics got a $27M contract to support the French Reapers.
Kratos has doubled its tactical UAV development projects and its Valkyrie UAV is expected to fly by the end of January 2019 with orders expected by the end of 2019 by the USAF.
Some think the Naval Vertical Landing Jet Drone could be what the navies of the world are seeking.
Piaggo Aerospace has gone bankrupt. What went wrong?
Zala has unveiled its new ICE variant of the ZALA-421-16E5 UAV.
Unmanned Ground Vehicles (Bolos & Ogres):
To become effective squad members, UGVs will need to earn soldiers' trust.
Russia's Moon exploration program will be implemented in several stages by 2040, the press service of the Russian space agency Roscosmos said on Wednesday.
The Russian Academy of Sciences' (RAS) Council earlier held a session with Roscosmos head Rogozin and RAS President Alexander Sergeyev to discuss the Moon exploration program.
"The goal of Moon exploration programs is to protect national interests on the new space frontier. The humanity's interest in Moon exploration is first of all linked with the fact that unique areas were found there that have favorable conditions for building lunar bases. The Moon exploration program will be implemented in several stages by 2040," the press service said.
Sergeyev noted the importance of exploring the Moon. "The issues of Moon exploration are on top of the agenda for today's session of the Council on Space Research. We understand that our resources are limited and that the geopolitical situation does not facilitate attracting more resources. This is why it is very important to choose the right strategy," he said.
Sergeyev said there are different opinions on what is the best moving forces - projects that may bring people people and the scientific community together, or something groundbreaking from the scientific point of view. "The Moon can become a very important project that includes both," he noted.
It was earlier reported that Russian cosmonauts will for the first time touch the Moon’s surface after 2030. Their mission will last 14 days.
The Dutch government has information that Russia developed a prohibited cruise missile, according to a letter written by Ministers Stef Blok of Foreign Affairs and Ank Bijleveld of Defense. It involves a SSC-8 missile that has a range of over 500 kilometers, which violates the INF treaty, NOS reports.
The Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty was signed in 1987 between the United States and Russia. It put an end to the Cold War. The treaty forbids the development of missiles with a range of more than 500 kilometers.
"The Netherlands can independently confirm that Russia has developed and is currently introducing a ground-based cruise weapon", the two Ministers wrote to the Tweede Kamer, the lower house of Dutch parliament. This is based on "intelligence".
Germany and France are progressing on their FCAS. They plan to launch demonstrator programs for the FCAS engine and airframe in mid 2019. The Germans expect the next step taken by the end of the year though. There are still a lot of hurdles ahead for the fighter.
Recommendations for the Sixth Generation Fighter for Europe were written up (PDF) by the Royal United Services Institute for Defense and Security Studies.
Hunter-B:
The Russian stealthy Hunter-B cranked kite UCAV has supposedly entered taxi testing.
SU-57:
A Russian analyst has stated despite rhetoric about how good the Su-57 is, the Russians Air Force would lose to the USAF.
The Russians released another video showing the Su-57's capability to conduct aerial refueling.
The Russians also released a video of the SU-57 in Syria. The two aircraft deployed conducted 10 sorties.
Supposedly, the SU-57's avionics have finished testing.
Watch two Su-57s conducting synchronized landings.
The SU-57 will get a new strike missile with "twice" the range.
The Su-57 gets panned by one of the lead F-35 haters.
J-20:
The aerial refueling capability of the J-20 has been confirmed.
B-21:
Robins AFB and Hill AFB will be the maintenancebases for the B-21.
One of the contenders for replacing Finland's fighters is the F-35 and Finland has begun early negotiations with all the bidders, including Lockheed.
The Italian AF declared IOC for its first F-35A squadron.
It appears Japan is moving ahead with its plans to buy F-35Bs for its jeep carriers and another 100 F-35As for its air force. Will Japan be able to afford its F-3 next gen fighter then?
Cubic is installing its integrated air combat training system on 500 F-35s.
Lockheed got a contract to mitigate the obsolesce of the F-35's processors.
NASA has set Jan. 7 as the date for the launch of the first commercial crew test flight, an uncrewed SpaceX Dragon spacecraft that will start a series of high-stakes missions over the next year.
In a Nov. 21 statement, NASA said the Falcon 9 launch of the Crew Dragon spacecraft on a mission designated Demo-1 is scheduled for Jan. 7 from Kennedy Space Center’s Launch Complex 39A, the former Apollo and shuttle pad that SpaceX has renovated to support launches of its Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy vehicles, in particular crewed Falcon 9 missions.
On that mission, the Crew Dragon spacecraft, also known as Dragon 2, will fly a mission to the International Space Station to test the vehicle’s systems. It will be the first orbital flight for the vehicle, and will not carry astronauts.
If that flight is successful, it will be followed in June by a crewed test flight, called Demo-2, where NASA astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley will fly the Crew Dragon to the ISS. Between Demo-1 and Demo-2, SpaceX plans to perform an in-flight abort test where a Crew Dragon will use its abort system to jettison from a Falcon 9 vehicle after liftoff.
A Chinese researcher claims that he helped make the world’s first genetically edited babies — twin girls born this month whose DNA he said he altered with a powerful new tool capable of rewriting the very blueprint of life.
If true, it would be a profound leap of science and ethics.
A U.S. scientist said he took part in the work in China, but this kind of gene editing is banned in the United States because the DNA changes can pass to future generations and it risks harming other genes.
Many mainstream scientists think it’s too unsafe to try, and some denounced the Chinese report as human experimentation.
When Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced earlier this month that the Indian Navy had completed its first sea-based nuclear deterrent patrol it was more of a statement of intent than a demonstration of a new capability.
The Indian Navy’s new ballistic missile submarine (SSBN) INS Arihant was the boomer that completed the month-long deterrent patrol. Whilst this is not insignificant – it is the first country outside of the five members of the U.N. Security Council to develop this capability – it also shows how far away India is to achieve its goal of joining the other great powers in establishing a credible sea-based deterrent.
Only the U.S., U.K., France and Russia can sustain continuous-at-sea deterrent patrols, which a provides continuous launch capability of a submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) by maintaining at least one SSBN on station at any one time that could fire a nuclear missile. A continuous patrol requires a minimum of four SSBNs.
The patrol as a statement will have more effect in diplomatic circles than in military ones. India wants to join the club of countries that can support a sea-based deterrent and eventually achieve a continuous at-sea nuclear deterrent. It also means India will have the ability to launch all three air, land and sea-based types of nuclear weapons and a more robust second strike capability.
ABB will build a factory in China to use robots to build robots for the Asian market.
Furhat Robotics is trying to cross the uncanny valley.
Google is shutting down Schaft Robotics after failing to find a buyer for the firm. Google bought Boston Dynamics and Schaft for some unknown purpose, but failed to find a use for their robots. They found a buyer for Boston Dynamics, but not Schaft. I have to wonder if Google didn't actually do serious harm to the development of nextgen robots by its ill-advised procurements.
iRobot has teamed up with Google to study your house. Yes, really.
LG is turning loose self driving shopping carts in South Korea.
Madeline Gannon is a roboticist teaching them to act more like animals.
Supposedly, this mopping robot can sense and avoid dog poo.
This is how NASA plans to use robots to produce fuel on Mars.
Robots will attempt to reseed chunks of the Great Barrier Reef with coral larvae.
A robotic arm might help rehabilitate sufferers from chronic strokes.
Stanford has developed a electronic glove to give robots a sense of touch.
Starship has launched its robot package delivery service in London.
Toyota put a pizza making robot in the back of a hydrogen powered truck.
Teams will compete to in an XPRIZE to map the ocean floor with autonomous underwater vehicles.
Cyborgism:
German scientists have created an artificial "skin" that can point north.
Kaspersky Software is warning brain implants might be hackable.
Some scientists are growing organoids of brain tissue and connecting them to robots.
