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Show A8 “ook like in 2025. None of his Soldier Ofthe Future Envisioned Today a Continned from A-1 headquarters every few seconds. The medics ee that the squad leader's heart rate and stress level are up, but otherwisehe’s fine. He has worked up quite a sweat, though, so the portable air condi- tioner on his belt promptlystarts circulating coolant via tiny tubes that run throughout his uniform. “You're fine. Have a drink of water.” The squad leader hears the message through a receiver inside his helmet that conducts sounds heads at the U.S. Army's Soldier Sending soldiers into harm's waywill entail highly advanced equipmentif the Army's view ofthe soldier of processors embedded imhis helmet recognize the pattern, transmitting the imageto the other squad members and to headquarters, where the medics smileinrelief. Fornow. the scenario described aboveis only a dream in the mind of Sgt. Joe Patterson. But, according to Patterson and other military layered suit with an outer layer of ballistic protection, a middle layer for conducting power to various devices, and an ‘inner layer that ®A wrist-mounted weapons pod, weighing about 5 pounds, that fires on voice command 4.6 mm bullets up to 300 meters, and four Today, he is a walking blueprint of the U.S. Army’s vision of what soldiers will microturbine fueled by a six-day supply of liquid hydrogen, backed years from now. BODY ARMOR The outer layer consists of ballistic-resistant ceramics backed by a composite material made with carbon fano-tubes that are as strong.as steel.._Extra. ammo is stored here. HELMET Meanwhile, eight phones. embedded would warp images to match the curvature of the visor for a 180-degree view, while eight helmet-mounted sensors provide 360-degree situational awareness. a iI iature spy planes andathertypes of steady 2 watts of powerthat robotic devices. Like many military programs, Future Soldier 2025 aims to. save can surge to 20 wattsif needed. BATTLE DRESS The outer layer includescatalysts mj AIR CONDITIONING The middlelayer is a power conduit, and the inner layer monitors life signs. while additional electronic components would provide imaging links to headquarters and ¢ontrol min- POWER SYSTEM Microturbines fueled by liquid hydrogen would provide a Ten ouncesoffuel contained in lightweight, plug-in cartridges would lastsix days. that caninduce a changein color. money by using technologies, par- ticularly computer processors and software, that are beifg developed in the commercial se¢tor. But that approachhasinherent risks. “The dilemma of using} off-the-shelf equipmentis that ab it is devel- A low-power, climateconditioning system worn on the hip would cool of warm the soldier as needed. The 5- pound device would use a microturbine for oped, it will also be available to our powerwith batteries as backup. enemies,” says Tassinari, ruefully. ‘Source: Popular Science magazine “We have to keep a technical step aheadin thelabs.” Maintainingthattechnical edge is still no guarantee bf superiority in real-world warfare. As has alwaysbeen thecase in combat, a lot ultimately dependson the training and expertise of the soldier. “Whenthe technology fails, and ‘Sean Noyce/The Salt Lake Tribune up by rechargeable three-hour battery patches embedded in the helmet liner or attached to the weapons pod. These individual pounds currently carried on a typical three-day mission. Each of these subsystems has two nascent technologies in com- subsystems mon. One involves microelectro- mustbe lightweight. Thegoal is to mechanical systems that combine computers with tiny mechanical deviceslike mirrors and gears em- makethe entire package equal to 15 percent of a soldier’s body weight. In Patterson’s case, this would mean a load of about 30 pounds, a far cry from the 92 tiny micro$trategically. around the helmet wuld provide 360-degree awareness of sounds, monitors the soldier's health. @A 5-pound microclimateconditioning systemthat provides 100 watts of heating or cooling. blinding shot froma laser weapon. When hit, the nanotubes would turn to plasma, quickly absorbing the energy from the Jaser before returning to their original state. Ra Microprocessors system. @ The combatuniform.a triple- tubes containing 15 mm projectiles with a rangeof1,000 meters. WA powersupply that uses a planners,this type offirefight will take place in the real world 25 meee offer protection in the event of a rockets launched by microelectro- mechanicalthrusters. developed. concept is a collection of subsystems covering everything.from weapons to communications to medical care. Scientists working in the lab’s Building 41, as it is commonly known, break their research into keycategories that include these components: @ Thesensor-equipped helmet. uses acclip of 4.6 mm bullets as well as 15 mm guided mini- the future comestrue. Much of it still needs to be whatthesoldier of the future will need. Natick’s Future Warrior 2025 whichcontrols targeting and communications, and is_ wirelessly linked to a central computer the image to provide a 180-degree picture that conforms to the curvature of the visor. Carbon nanotubes would also onthe soldier's forearm Together,’ they are developing technology guidelines for private industry and academia. Patterson’s job-is to stroll into labs around the country and explain through the bones of his head. He makesthe OKsign withhis fingers. Thefingertips of his glove contain sensors, and the micro- Tiny microprocessors would warp weapons pod mounted Systems Center in Natick, Mass, Only he can hear the voice, so communications won't give away his position. The squad leader sucksfromatube inside his helmet that connects to a water pack hanging fromhis back. create a high-resolution display inside a soldier’s helmet visor. equipment works. Yet. Patterson, a 6-foot-tall, 200pound veteran of the 82nd Airborne Division, is the liaison between the infantry and the egg- bedded in semiconductor chips. The other is nanotechnology, which promisesto reduce thesize of electronic components to one- millionth of a meter. Also foundatthis scale are carbon nanotubes: rolled-up sheets of graphite that are stronger than steel and only a nanometer wide. it will, you have to carry on with Discovered in 1991, the hollow tubes are now beingtested for a the mission,” says Patterson. “That's when I come into play.” variety of possible applications. Because they emit electrons well, they might someday be used to Sor Popular Science magazine. This story originally was written CLINIQUE : ¢ Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion ° Sparkle $ kin Body i } Exfoliater ° Longstem med Lashes | Mascara in Black ¢ Sheer Powder Blusher in Wildrose ; ¢ City Block Oil-Free Daily Face Protector SPF 15 * Double Different Lipstick in Mauve Crystal or | Different Grape j =| } { i CITY BLOCK * Cosmetics Bag CHARGE IT WITH ZCMI. WE ALSO WELCOME VISA, MASTERCARD AND DISCOVER Offer valid through August 19 in Utah stores only. One to a customer, please. While supplies last. ORDER ANYTIME: TOLL FREE 1-800-452-6323. 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