Delta Industries
19-07-2005, 09:01
Here is the promised info on some of Delta's other projects. They are not final so if you see a need for a change in something, don't be afraid to say something.
Pain Beam: A new direct weapon that exploites one of our natural defense mechanisms, pain. The active-denial system weapon is designed to transmit a narrow beam of electromagnetic energy to heat the skin without causing any permanent damage. The beam is sent out at the speed of light by a transmitter measuring 10 by 10 feet (3 by 3 meters). An intense burning sensation continues until the transmitter is turned off or the targeted individual moves outside of the beam's range. The exact size and range of the beam is classified, but it is designed for long-range use. The weapon penetrates the skin less than 0.016 inches (0.04 cm), not far enough to damage organs. Long-term exposure to light, such as in sun-tanning, is said to be more harmful than the pain beam. This doesn't mean that the individual won't feel anything more that a little burn. The pain beam is designed to incapacitate a person without doing perminant damage. This would be best used if there are civilians around.
Ulysseus Battle Armor:
Helmet - The helmet houses a GPS receiver, radio and the wide- and local-area network connections. Soldiers will utilize a voice-activated, drop-down screen in the helmet to access information without having to put down their weapons. Embedded in a pair of transparent glasses, the display will appear to the soldier as a 17-inch screen. This screen can display maps and real-time video provided by a forward-positioned scout team, satellite or aircraft. Another vital component of battle is communication between soldiers. The Ulysseus Battle Armor will use sensors that measure vibrations of the cranial cavity, eliminating the need for an external microphone. This bone-conduction technology allows soldiers to communicate with one another, and it also controls the menus visible through the drop-down eyepiece. The helmet has 360-degree situational awareness and voice amplification.
Warrior Physiological Status Monitoring System - This layer of the suit is the closest to the body and contains sensors that monitor physiological indicators, such as heart rate, blood pressure and hydration. The suit relays the information to medics and field commanders. The physiological subsystem of the uniform lies against the soldier's skin and includes sensors that monitor soldier's core body temperature, skin temperature, heart rate, body position (standing or sitting) and hydration levels. These statistics are monitored by the soldier and by medics and commanding officers who might be miles away. Knowing the condition of a platoon of soldiers allows commanders to make better strategic decisions.
Liquid Body Armor - This liquid body armor is made from magnetorheological fluid, a fluid that remains in a liquid state until the application of a magnetic field. When an electrical pulse is applied, the armor transitions from a soft state to a rigid state in thousandths of a second. One type of MR fluid consists of small iron particles suspended in silicon oil. The oil prevents the particles from rusting. The fluid transforms from liquid to solid in just milliseconds when a magnetic field or electrical current is applied to it. The current causes the iron particles to lock into a uniform polarity and stack on top of each other, creating an impenetrable shield. How hard the substance becomes depends on the strength of the magnetic field or electrical current. Once the charge or magnetic field is removed, the particles unlock, and the substance goes back to a fluid state.
MR fluid will fill small pockets in the Ulysseus uniform fabric. The uniforms will be wired to allow an electrical current to pass through the fabric. The electrical current will be controlled by the onboard computer system and will automatically charge the MR fluid when there is a ballistic threat present
Exoskeleton - The exoskeleton is made of lightweight, composite devices that attach to the legs and augment the soldier's strength. Superhuman strength has always been confined to science fiction, but advances in human-performance augmentation systems could give soldiers the ability to lift hundreds of pounds using the effort they would usually use to lift a fraction of that weight. In the shoulder of the Ulyseuss uniform is a fabric filled with nanomachines that mimic the action of human muscles, flexing open and shut when stimulated by an electrical pulse. These nanomachines will create lift the way muscles do and augment overall lifting ability by 25 to 35 percent. The exoskeleton will merge structure, power, control, actuation and biomechanics. Here's a look at some of the challenges that Delta has outlined:
Structural materials - The exoskeleton will have to be made out of composite materials that are strong, lightweight and flexible.
Power source - The exoskeleton must have enough power to run for at least 24 hours before refueling.
Control - Controls for the machine must be seamless. Users must be able to function normally while wearing the device.
Actuation - The machine must be able to move smoothly so it's not too awkward for the wearer. Actuators must be quiet and efficient.
Biomechanics - Exoskeletons must be able to shift from side to side and front to back, just as a person would move in battle. Developers will have to design the frame with human-like joints.
Together, these subsystems combine to create a uniform that informs, protects and enhances the abilities of its wearer.
New Missile Defense:The NMD that is being developed now is a toned-down version of the missile-defense system proposed by President Reagan. Forget the lasers and high-speed projectile weapons. The current system will not be the impenetrable force-field that was envisioned in the Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI). Instead, Delta Industries is working on a ground-based missile-defense system that can respond to a limited missile attack. There are five parts to this NMD system:
Upgraded Early-warning Radar (UEWR)
X-band/Ground-based Radar (XBR)
Space-based Infrared System (SBIRS)
Battle Management, Command, Control and Communications (BMC3)
Ground-based Interceptors (GBIs)
The first part of NMD will involve detecting the launch of enemy missiles and tracking them. Data gathered by a system of radar and satellites will be sent back to personnel at the BMC3, who then will take appropriate action. Let's take a look at the three components that make up the detection and tracking system of NMDUpgraded:
Early-warning Radar (UEWR) - This is a phased-array surveillance radar that can detect and track ballistic missiles. NMD will use upgraded versions of existing, ultra-high frequency early-warning radar. Hardware modifications, including the replacement of existing computers, graphic displays, communications equipment and the radar receiver/exciter, will also be made to the EWR. UEWRs will be used to detect and track missiles and other projectiles during their midcourse phase, before cueing the more precise X-Band Radar.
X-band/Ground-based Radar (XBR) - This consists of a multi-function phased array radar that uses high frequency and advanced radar-signal processing technology. The XBR will track missiles as they fly closer to the United States and assess which missiles are decoys and which are armed with warheads. It is equipped with high-resolution radar that allows it to accurately discriminate between closely spaced objects. XBR radar has a 50-degree field of view and can rotate 360 degrees to track targets. It will transmit a radiation pattern in a narrow beam made up of electromagnetic pulses. The radar site consists of the X-band radar mounted on a pedestal, a control and maintenance facility, a power generation facility and a 492-foot (150-m) protected area. The XBR site will cover 17.46 acres.
Space-based Infrared System (SBIRS) - Under development by the Air Force, the SBIRS satellites are on a 10-year development plan and are expected to be added to the system three to four years after NMD becomes operational. These satellites will replace the current Defense Support Program (DSP) satellites. There are three kinds of SBIRS satellites, including four geostationary earth orbit (GEO) satellites, two highly elliptical orbit (HEO) satellites and an unspecified number of low earth orbit (LEO) satellites. Eventually, there will be a 24-satellite constellation that will start tracking enemy missiles earlier than radar, allowing for quicker response.
Once radar has determined that an enemy missile has been launched and is targeting a certain country, the next phase is to trigger one or more of the one-hundred interceptor missiles to destroy the enemy ballistic missile before it reaches a countries air space.The whole idea of a NMD system is to provide a type of shield that will guard against a light ballistic-missile attack. Tracking enemy missiles by radar is all well and good, but the point of the NMD system is to shoot them down before they get to a country's air space. This will be no small task for the military, and there is still much testing to do. Let's take a look at one of the NMD's ground-based interceptors. The ground-based interceptors include two parts:
Payload Vehicle (PLV) - Flight tests have been conducted with a PLV designed by Delta Industries. It consists of the second and third stages of retired Minuteman II boosters. The Minuteman II PLV will later be replaced with a more advanced model for one-site coverage of the entire United States. In addition to the two booster stages on the PLV, there is also a payload shroud attached to the top. The payload shroud contains the EKV.
Exoatmospheric Kill Vehicle (EKV) - The kill vehicle is the bullet of NMD's weapon system. This device is intended to impact the targeted missile at a velocity of 15,000 mph (24,140 kph). The force of the collision should destroy any ballistic missile.
The Battle Management, Command, Control and Communications (BMC3) is the nerve center of the NMD system. It begins tracking the threatening ballistic missile as soon as it is launched by an enemy state. Information about the enemy missile, including trajectory and probable impact point, is relayed to the BMC3 from space-based sensors and ground-based radar. In about 20 minutes after the enemy missile is launched, an interceptor takes off. This interceptor is programmed with information gained from the radar. Approximately two-and-a-half minutes after take-off, the kill vehicle will separate from the booster. Just prior to this separation, the kill vehicle will be given a final update about the target. The kill vehicle will be about 1,400 miles (2,253 km) away from its target when it separates. It will then begin a set of maneuvers to calibrate its sensors. One way it calibrates itself is by doing a star shot. A star shot involves the EKV comparing itself to a constellation that it is programmed to look for. After the EKV is finished with calibration, it will seek out, acquire and guide itself toward the target without any external guidance or communications. This happens about six minutes after takeoff. Then, the EKV draws a figurative bull's eye on the targeted ICBM and begins a collision course. If everything goes according to plan, the EKV will collide with the target 120 miles (193 km) above Earth. The process of pinpointing, aiming an interceptor at and then killing the target with an EKV is very complex. There are many components that have to be coordinated in real time, and the entire procedure is completed less than 30 minutes after the enemy missile takes off.
Photonic Mast: Crews onboard a submarine can spend months at sea, submerged, with no way to catch even a single glimpse of sunlight -- the only window to the outside world is the eyepiece of the periscope in the control room. The periscope is a fundamental piece of submarine equipment, and provides valuable visual data during battle and in determining the ship's position. Despite its valued service for more than 80 years, navy's will soon say "so long" to the conventional periscope. Soon submarines will use non-penetrating imaging devices called photonics masts to perform surveillance tasks. Each new submarine will be equipped with two photonics masts, which are basically arrays of high-resolution cameras that capture and send visual images to flat-panel displays in the control room. There are two problems with conventional optical periscopes. First, a periscope well runs the entire height of the ship to house the periscope, and its size restricts the arrangement of the sail and interior compartments. The second problem is that periscopes can accommodate only one person at a time. Delta has developed a new AN/BVS-1 photonics mast to solve these two problems.
The photonics mast provides the imaging, navigation, electronic warfare and communications functions of a conventional optical periscope. The mast will rise like a car antenna, in a telescopic motion. Electronic imaging equipment will replace the prisms and lenses of the old optical periscopes. The heart of the system is the sensor unit that will protrude through the water. This multiple electro-optical sensor is located in a rotating head. The masts are equipped with three cameras, including a color camera, a high-resolution black-and-white camera and an infrared camera, to provide imaging for the submarine. There is also a mission critical control camera in a separate, pressure-proof and shock-hardened housing, and an eyesafe laser range finder that provides accurate target ranges and aids in navigation. The periscope well that houses these masts will be contained only in the ship's sail. The smaller size of the periscope well allows for more freedom in determining the location of the ship's control room. With conventional periscopes, the control room had to be placed in the cramped upper deck. Now it can be placed on the wider second deck for more room.Images from the photonics masts are sent via fiber optics to two workstations and a commander's control console. The two photonics masts are controlled via joystick from any of these stations. Each station contains two flat-panel displays, a standard keyboard and a trackball interface. Images are recorded on both video cassette and CD-ROM.
That's it for now. Like I said don't be afraid to point out what's wrong.
Pain Beam: A new direct weapon that exploites one of our natural defense mechanisms, pain. The active-denial system weapon is designed to transmit a narrow beam of electromagnetic energy to heat the skin without causing any permanent damage. The beam is sent out at the speed of light by a transmitter measuring 10 by 10 feet (3 by 3 meters). An intense burning sensation continues until the transmitter is turned off or the targeted individual moves outside of the beam's range. The exact size and range of the beam is classified, but it is designed for long-range use. The weapon penetrates the skin less than 0.016 inches (0.04 cm), not far enough to damage organs. Long-term exposure to light, such as in sun-tanning, is said to be more harmful than the pain beam. This doesn't mean that the individual won't feel anything more that a little burn. The pain beam is designed to incapacitate a person without doing perminant damage. This would be best used if there are civilians around.
Ulysseus Battle Armor:
Helmet - The helmet houses a GPS receiver, radio and the wide- and local-area network connections. Soldiers will utilize a voice-activated, drop-down screen in the helmet to access information without having to put down their weapons. Embedded in a pair of transparent glasses, the display will appear to the soldier as a 17-inch screen. This screen can display maps and real-time video provided by a forward-positioned scout team, satellite or aircraft. Another vital component of battle is communication between soldiers. The Ulysseus Battle Armor will use sensors that measure vibrations of the cranial cavity, eliminating the need for an external microphone. This bone-conduction technology allows soldiers to communicate with one another, and it also controls the menus visible through the drop-down eyepiece. The helmet has 360-degree situational awareness and voice amplification.
Warrior Physiological Status Monitoring System - This layer of the suit is the closest to the body and contains sensors that monitor physiological indicators, such as heart rate, blood pressure and hydration. The suit relays the information to medics and field commanders. The physiological subsystem of the uniform lies against the soldier's skin and includes sensors that monitor soldier's core body temperature, skin temperature, heart rate, body position (standing or sitting) and hydration levels. These statistics are monitored by the soldier and by medics and commanding officers who might be miles away. Knowing the condition of a platoon of soldiers allows commanders to make better strategic decisions.
Liquid Body Armor - This liquid body armor is made from magnetorheological fluid, a fluid that remains in a liquid state until the application of a magnetic field. When an electrical pulse is applied, the armor transitions from a soft state to a rigid state in thousandths of a second. One type of MR fluid consists of small iron particles suspended in silicon oil. The oil prevents the particles from rusting. The fluid transforms from liquid to solid in just milliseconds when a magnetic field or electrical current is applied to it. The current causes the iron particles to lock into a uniform polarity and stack on top of each other, creating an impenetrable shield. How hard the substance becomes depends on the strength of the magnetic field or electrical current. Once the charge or magnetic field is removed, the particles unlock, and the substance goes back to a fluid state.
MR fluid will fill small pockets in the Ulysseus uniform fabric. The uniforms will be wired to allow an electrical current to pass through the fabric. The electrical current will be controlled by the onboard computer system and will automatically charge the MR fluid when there is a ballistic threat present
Exoskeleton - The exoskeleton is made of lightweight, composite devices that attach to the legs and augment the soldier's strength. Superhuman strength has always been confined to science fiction, but advances in human-performance augmentation systems could give soldiers the ability to lift hundreds of pounds using the effort they would usually use to lift a fraction of that weight. In the shoulder of the Ulyseuss uniform is a fabric filled with nanomachines that mimic the action of human muscles, flexing open and shut when stimulated by an electrical pulse. These nanomachines will create lift the way muscles do and augment overall lifting ability by 25 to 35 percent. The exoskeleton will merge structure, power, control, actuation and biomechanics. Here's a look at some of the challenges that Delta has outlined:
Structural materials - The exoskeleton will have to be made out of composite materials that are strong, lightweight and flexible.
Power source - The exoskeleton must have enough power to run for at least 24 hours before refueling.
Control - Controls for the machine must be seamless. Users must be able to function normally while wearing the device.
Actuation - The machine must be able to move smoothly so it's not too awkward for the wearer. Actuators must be quiet and efficient.
Biomechanics - Exoskeletons must be able to shift from side to side and front to back, just as a person would move in battle. Developers will have to design the frame with human-like joints.
Together, these subsystems combine to create a uniform that informs, protects and enhances the abilities of its wearer.
New Missile Defense:The NMD that is being developed now is a toned-down version of the missile-defense system proposed by President Reagan. Forget the lasers and high-speed projectile weapons. The current system will not be the impenetrable force-field that was envisioned in the Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI). Instead, Delta Industries is working on a ground-based missile-defense system that can respond to a limited missile attack. There are five parts to this NMD system:
Upgraded Early-warning Radar (UEWR)
X-band/Ground-based Radar (XBR)
Space-based Infrared System (SBIRS)
Battle Management, Command, Control and Communications (BMC3)
Ground-based Interceptors (GBIs)
The first part of NMD will involve detecting the launch of enemy missiles and tracking them. Data gathered by a system of radar and satellites will be sent back to personnel at the BMC3, who then will take appropriate action. Let's take a look at the three components that make up the detection and tracking system of NMDUpgraded:
Early-warning Radar (UEWR) - This is a phased-array surveillance radar that can detect and track ballistic missiles. NMD will use upgraded versions of existing, ultra-high frequency early-warning radar. Hardware modifications, including the replacement of existing computers, graphic displays, communications equipment and the radar receiver/exciter, will also be made to the EWR. UEWRs will be used to detect and track missiles and other projectiles during their midcourse phase, before cueing the more precise X-Band Radar.
X-band/Ground-based Radar (XBR) - This consists of a multi-function phased array radar that uses high frequency and advanced radar-signal processing technology. The XBR will track missiles as they fly closer to the United States and assess which missiles are decoys and which are armed with warheads. It is equipped with high-resolution radar that allows it to accurately discriminate between closely spaced objects. XBR radar has a 50-degree field of view and can rotate 360 degrees to track targets. It will transmit a radiation pattern in a narrow beam made up of electromagnetic pulses. The radar site consists of the X-band radar mounted on a pedestal, a control and maintenance facility, a power generation facility and a 492-foot (150-m) protected area. The XBR site will cover 17.46 acres.
Space-based Infrared System (SBIRS) - Under development by the Air Force, the SBIRS satellites are on a 10-year development plan and are expected to be added to the system three to four years after NMD becomes operational. These satellites will replace the current Defense Support Program (DSP) satellites. There are three kinds of SBIRS satellites, including four geostationary earth orbit (GEO) satellites, two highly elliptical orbit (HEO) satellites and an unspecified number of low earth orbit (LEO) satellites. Eventually, there will be a 24-satellite constellation that will start tracking enemy missiles earlier than radar, allowing for quicker response.
Once radar has determined that an enemy missile has been launched and is targeting a certain country, the next phase is to trigger one or more of the one-hundred interceptor missiles to destroy the enemy ballistic missile before it reaches a countries air space.The whole idea of a NMD system is to provide a type of shield that will guard against a light ballistic-missile attack. Tracking enemy missiles by radar is all well and good, but the point of the NMD system is to shoot them down before they get to a country's air space. This will be no small task for the military, and there is still much testing to do. Let's take a look at one of the NMD's ground-based interceptors. The ground-based interceptors include two parts:
Payload Vehicle (PLV) - Flight tests have been conducted with a PLV designed by Delta Industries. It consists of the second and third stages of retired Minuteman II boosters. The Minuteman II PLV will later be replaced with a more advanced model for one-site coverage of the entire United States. In addition to the two booster stages on the PLV, there is also a payload shroud attached to the top. The payload shroud contains the EKV.
Exoatmospheric Kill Vehicle (EKV) - The kill vehicle is the bullet of NMD's weapon system. This device is intended to impact the targeted missile at a velocity of 15,000 mph (24,140 kph). The force of the collision should destroy any ballistic missile.
The Battle Management, Command, Control and Communications (BMC3) is the nerve center of the NMD system. It begins tracking the threatening ballistic missile as soon as it is launched by an enemy state. Information about the enemy missile, including trajectory and probable impact point, is relayed to the BMC3 from space-based sensors and ground-based radar. In about 20 minutes after the enemy missile is launched, an interceptor takes off. This interceptor is programmed with information gained from the radar. Approximately two-and-a-half minutes after take-off, the kill vehicle will separate from the booster. Just prior to this separation, the kill vehicle will be given a final update about the target. The kill vehicle will be about 1,400 miles (2,253 km) away from its target when it separates. It will then begin a set of maneuvers to calibrate its sensors. One way it calibrates itself is by doing a star shot. A star shot involves the EKV comparing itself to a constellation that it is programmed to look for. After the EKV is finished with calibration, it will seek out, acquire and guide itself toward the target without any external guidance or communications. This happens about six minutes after takeoff. Then, the EKV draws a figurative bull's eye on the targeted ICBM and begins a collision course. If everything goes according to plan, the EKV will collide with the target 120 miles (193 km) above Earth. The process of pinpointing, aiming an interceptor at and then killing the target with an EKV is very complex. There are many components that have to be coordinated in real time, and the entire procedure is completed less than 30 minutes after the enemy missile takes off.
Photonic Mast: Crews onboard a submarine can spend months at sea, submerged, with no way to catch even a single glimpse of sunlight -- the only window to the outside world is the eyepiece of the periscope in the control room. The periscope is a fundamental piece of submarine equipment, and provides valuable visual data during battle and in determining the ship's position. Despite its valued service for more than 80 years, navy's will soon say "so long" to the conventional periscope. Soon submarines will use non-penetrating imaging devices called photonics masts to perform surveillance tasks. Each new submarine will be equipped with two photonics masts, which are basically arrays of high-resolution cameras that capture and send visual images to flat-panel displays in the control room. There are two problems with conventional optical periscopes. First, a periscope well runs the entire height of the ship to house the periscope, and its size restricts the arrangement of the sail and interior compartments. The second problem is that periscopes can accommodate only one person at a time. Delta has developed a new AN/BVS-1 photonics mast to solve these two problems.
The photonics mast provides the imaging, navigation, electronic warfare and communications functions of a conventional optical periscope. The mast will rise like a car antenna, in a telescopic motion. Electronic imaging equipment will replace the prisms and lenses of the old optical periscopes. The heart of the system is the sensor unit that will protrude through the water. This multiple electro-optical sensor is located in a rotating head. The masts are equipped with three cameras, including a color camera, a high-resolution black-and-white camera and an infrared camera, to provide imaging for the submarine. There is also a mission critical control camera in a separate, pressure-proof and shock-hardened housing, and an eyesafe laser range finder that provides accurate target ranges and aids in navigation. The periscope well that houses these masts will be contained only in the ship's sail. The smaller size of the periscope well allows for more freedom in determining the location of the ship's control room. With conventional periscopes, the control room had to be placed in the cramped upper deck. Now it can be placed on the wider second deck for more room.Images from the photonics masts are sent via fiber optics to two workstations and a commander's control console. The two photonics masts are controlled via joystick from any of these stations. Each station contains two flat-panel displays, a standard keyboard and a trackball interface. Images are recorded on both video cassette and CD-ROM.
That's it for now. Like I said don't be afraid to point out what's wrong.