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Chemical Robots (ChemBots)
If covert access to denied or hostile space is required during military operations, the effectiveness of unmanned platforms such as mechanical robots can be limited if the only available points of entry are small openings. The goal of the Chemical Robots (ChemBots) program is to create a new class of soft, flexible, meso-scale mobile objects that can identify and maneuver through openings smaller than their dimensions and perform tasks once entry is gained. The program seeks to develop a ChemBot that can perform several operations in sequence. It should travel a specified distance and traverse an arbitrarily shaped opening much smaller than the largest characteristic of the robot itself. Once through the opening, it will reconstitute its size, shape, and functionality and travel again to perform a task using an embedded payload. ChemBots merges materials chemistry and robotics through application of any one of several approaches including gel-solid transitions, electro-and magneto-rheological materials, geometric transitions, and reversible chemical and particle association and dissociation. If successful, ChemBots will help warfighters gain access to denied spaces and effectively perform covert tasks.
If covert access to denied or hostile space is required during military operations, the effectiveness of unmanned platforms such as mechanical robots can be limited if the only available points of entry are small openings. The goal of the Chemical Robots (ChemBots) program is to create a new class of soft, flexible, meso-scale mobile objects that can identify and maneuver through openings smaller than their dimensions and perform tasks once entry is gained. The program seeks to develop a ChemBot that can perform several operations in sequence. It should travel a specified distance and traverse an arbitrarily shaped opening much smaller than the largest characteristic of the robot itself. Once through the opening, it will reconstitute its size, shape, and functionality and travel again to perform a task using an embedded payload. ChemBots merges materials chemistry and robotics through application of any one of several approaches including gel-solid transitions, electro-and magneto-rheological materials, geometric transitions, and reversible chemical and particle association and dissociation. If successful, ChemBots will help warfighters gain access to denied spaces and effectively perform covert tasks.
Restorative Encoding Memory Integration Neural Device (REMIND)
Memory loss and inability to acquire new memories are common consequences of traumatic brain injury, and memory dysfunction is an expensive, long-term treatment problem for the military. Recovery from loss of memory associated with critical work and life tasks is essential to the recovery of a brain-wounded warfighter. A biomimetic model of the hippocampus could serve as a neural prosthesis for lost cognitive function and memory impairment.
The Restorative Encoding Memory Integration Neural Device (REMIND) program will determine the nature and means by which short-term memory is encoded to enable restoration of memory through use of devices programmed to bypass injured regions of the brain. Researchers will demonstrate the ability to restore performance on a short-term memory task in animal models, as well as determine quantitative descriptive methods for describing the means and processes by which memory is encoded.
Memory loss and inability to acquire new memories are common consequences of traumatic brain injury, and memory dysfunction is an expensive, long-term treatment problem for the military. Recovery from loss of memory associated with critical work and life tasks is essential to the recovery of a brain-wounded warfighter. A biomimetic model of the hippocampus could serve as a neural prosthesis for lost cognitive function and memory impairment.
The Restorative Encoding Memory Integration Neural Device (REMIND) program will determine the nature and means by which short-term memory is encoded to enable restoration of memory through use of devices programmed to bypass injured regions of the brain. Researchers will demonstrate the ability to restore performance on a short-term memory task in animal models, as well as determine quantitative descriptive methods for describing the means and processes by which memory is encoded.
Casimir Effect Enhancement (CEE)
The Casimir Effect Enhancement (CEE) program seeks to manipulate forces very near surfaces to enable control of small-scale phenomena, including nanodevice adhesion and friction. The objectives of this single-phase DARPA program are to demonstrate unambiguous detection, neutralization, and dynamic manipulation of the Casimir force to modulate between normal and neutralized states. Some approaches to these program goals include the development of new materials, engineered nanostructures, or active elements. Recent research activities (models and experiments) have already identified manipulation of the Casimir force as an important challenge.
The Casimir Effect Enhancement (CEE) program seeks to manipulate forces very near surfaces to enable control of small-scale phenomena, including nanodevice adhesion and friction. The objectives of this single-phase DARPA program are to demonstrate unambiguous detection, neutralization, and dynamic manipulation of the Casimir force to modulate between normal and neutralized states. Some approaches to these program goals include the development of new materials, engineered nanostructures, or active elements. Recent research activities (models and experiments) have already identified manipulation of the Casimir force as an important challenge.
EXCALIBUR
In counterinsurgent, counter-terror campaigns, risks associated with conventional weapons in combat operations can severely limit their use and effectiveness, particularly in urban environments. These risks are largely associated with challenges posed by confining intended effects to adversary combatants and forces. Even in cases when combat operations are deemed necessary, the consequences of collateral damage from conventional weapons can complicate and hinder the overall mission. Laboratory and field testing of high-power laser systems indicate irradiance levels for functional and lethal effects against a variety of adversary targets and surgical precision of such lasers against certain air and ground targets. However, existing high-power chemical laser systems are too large and too inefficient for deployment on tactical airborne platforms.
The DARPA Excalibur program will develop coherent optical phased array technologies to enable scalable laser weapons that are 10 times lighter and more compact than existing high-power chemical laser systems. The optical phased array architecture provides electro-optical systems with the same mission flexibility and performance enhancements that microwave phased arrays provide for RF systems and a multifunction Excalibur array may also perform laser radar, target designation, laser communications, and airborne-platform self protection tasks.
In counterinsurgent, counter-terror campaigns, risks associated with conventional weapons in combat operations can severely limit their use and effectiveness, particularly in urban environments. These risks are largely associated with challenges posed by confining intended effects to adversary combatants and forces. Even in cases when combat operations are deemed necessary, the consequences of collateral damage from conventional weapons can complicate and hinder the overall mission. Laboratory and field testing of high-power laser systems indicate irradiance levels for functional and lethal effects against a variety of adversary targets and surgical precision of such lasers against certain air and ground targets. However, existing high-power chemical laser systems are too large and too inefficient for deployment on tactical airborne platforms.
The DARPA Excalibur program will develop coherent optical phased array technologies to enable scalable laser weapons that are 10 times lighter and more compact than existing high-power chemical laser systems. The optical phased array architecture provides electro-optical systems with the same mission flexibility and performance enhancements that microwave phased arrays provide for RF systems and a multifunction Excalibur array may also perform laser radar, target designation, laser communications, and airborne-platform self protection tasks.
Restorative Injury Repair
The Restorative Injury Repair program seeks to develop a comprehensive understanding of wounds, including cellular elements, matrix, inflammatory mediators, growth factors, nutrients, substrate use, biofilms, and the processes of morphogenesis leading to anatomic and functional restoration. First phase accomplishments include demonstrating formation of a blastema at a nonregenerating wound site in a mammal. Second phase efforts are focused on full restoration of a functional multitissue structure in mammals.
The Restorative Injury Repair program seeks to develop a comprehensive understanding of wounds, including cellular elements, matrix, inflammatory mediators, growth factors, nutrients, substrate use, biofilms, and the processes of morphogenesis leading to anatomic and functional restoration. First phase accomplishments include demonstrating formation of a blastema at a nonregenerating wound site in a mammal. Second phase efforts are focused on full restoration of a functional multitissue structure in mammals.
Preventing Violent Explosive Neurologic Trauma (PREVENT)
Previous efforts to understand brain injuries that result from nonkinetic explosive effects have focused only on a single explanation—blast overpressure. Improvised explosive device (IED)-induced injuries in Iraq, however, do not fit this hypothesis. Evidence indicates that traumatic brain injuries unique to blast exposure do not exhibit typical overpressure injuries, such as damage to gas-filled organs like lungs and bowel. DARPA’s Preventing Violent Explosive Neurologic Trauma (PREVENT) program is comprehensively evaluating the physics of the interaction between an IED blast and the brain and has identified which blast components are associated with neurologic injury.
The initial phase of the program has comprehensively evaluated the physics of interaction between an IED blast and the neurological system and has determined which components are causally associated with neurologic injury. Areas of research include:
Previous efforts to understand brain injuries that result from nonkinetic explosive effects have focused only on a single explanation—blast overpressure. Improvised explosive device (IED)-induced injuries in Iraq, however, do not fit this hypothesis. Evidence indicates that traumatic brain injuries unique to blast exposure do not exhibit typical overpressure injuries, such as damage to gas-filled organs like lungs and bowel. DARPA’s Preventing Violent Explosive Neurologic Trauma (PREVENT) program is comprehensively evaluating the physics of the interaction between an IED blast and the brain and has identified which blast components are associated with neurologic injury.
The initial phase of the program has comprehensively evaluated the physics of interaction between an IED blast and the neurological system and has determined which components are causally associated with neurologic injury. Areas of research include:
- Addressing the mechanisms of explosive blast injury at the molecular and macroscopic scales, including but not limited to cellular, tissue level, organ level, and organ system level.
- Characterizing the injury over the pathophysiological evolution that ranges from primary injury as a direct result of the insult, to the consequent secondary pathophysiological cascade, extending beyond biogenic responses into psychogenic outcomes.
- Isolating the spectrum of physical mechanisms in explosion environments and determining their coupled effects on the central nervous system.