A video camera is hidden in the ear

Taking hidden video footage at any level, from a candid camera TV show up to high-profile police operations to gather evidence against criminals, always require maximum discretion to achieve the best result, be it a good laugh or vital intelligence to fight organized crime.

Therefore, to avoid raising suspicions, the presence of a hidden camera should be impossible to detect, or it should be hidden in a way that does not make others smell anything fishy. For example, who could possibly think that what looks like normal earphones used to listen to music are actually digital video cameras, and that the MP3 player connected to them is instead a video recorder?

This is possible thanks to ear cameras, that is, some miniature needle-type cameras which are concealed inside a perfectly working earphone. The camera is placed inside one of the earbuds, while the other one is used to conceal the microphone.

By using it, it will be possible to record video and audio tracks without causing concerns, using your ear as it were the camera eye. Images and footage picked up by your ear cam can be recorded directly on a pocket video recorder, or transmitted remotely thanks to a microscopic wireless transmitter, towards a receiving station where they will be viewed and recorded to be used as evidence before a court of law.

This kind of video systems are particularly useful for law enforcement agencies, in this particular moment when usage of eavesdropping technologies such as micro bugs is in danger of being severely limited by new legislations.

For more details on how hidden cameras are working, we recommend that you visit the Endoacustica website to receive more information.

Will body armor of the future be liquid?

It’s again them, the BAE Systems researchers. This time, they have presented a project they are working on, and which is developing a liquid which toughens instantly when subject to an impact, for example caused by a bullet.
The final goal of the research project is to make movements easier for those soldiers who are wearing a body armor, made up of ceramic panels which makes it heavy and bulky, and that in hot environments like the Iraqi desert or the Afghan valleys might be unbearable due to high temperatures.

In a liquid armor, this fluid is intertwined with a Kevlar fabric, which allows for higher flexibility, while reducing thickness by approximately 45% less than a conventional armor.

The latter have ceramic panels which, in case of impact, would bend inwards, preventing the bullet from going through but still inflicting a painful blow. With the liquid armor, instead, the fluid contained inside the Kevlar fabric not only toughens instantly in case of impact, with a toughness which is higher if the impact is stronger; aside from this, the energy caused by the impact is spread over a surface much wider than when using vests with common ceramic plates.

Therefore, the shock is absorbed in a much less painful way for the wearer of a liquid armor versus a traditional one. A lighter version of this armor might be useful not only for soldiers, but could replace the usual bulletproof vests used by police forces patrolling our cities, while in the future, BAE Systems is planning to produce an ultralight version of its Kevlar-based material; for now, a prototype of liquid armor has been presented to the British Ministry of Defense.

British soldiers will march lightly, thanks to MOATV

BAE Systems have just presented their MOATV, a vehicle designed to make British soldiers’ life easier, during the long transfer marches in war zones where they are deployed, which involve carrying, either by hand or on their shoulders, loads that can reach up to 70 kgs.

The acronym MOATV stands for Multi-Operated All-Terrain Vehicle. In fact, just like its name says, the MOATV can be driven like your ordinary car by sitting at the wheel, or operated by remote control by an officer equipped with a specifically designed handheld computer or PDA.

On top of this, MOATV is equipped with a wide range of technological devices including anti collision systems, a bit like the parking sensor mounted on our average cars, but designed to avoid any obstacles such as for example rocks or holes, that should be encountered on the way while remotely controlled.

As said, this vehicle was designed to meet the need for making the load easier on soldiers who operate on foot, and thanks to MOATV, they will also be less vulnerable to possible sudden attacks or ambushes, as the lack of weights to carry will of course be reflected on a better response and reaction time.

By providing each platoon with a vehicle of this kind, and each soldier with a PDA to control it, it could be used not only to relieve fatigue, but also to carry ammunition across a battlefield without being exposed to enemy fire, to evacuate wounded soldiers ion similar conditions or for patrolling operations by mounting a camera on board.

In a few words, life of soldiers is more and more ruled by robotics: when will robots finally replace soldiers and save lives?

Yet another flying car

As we happened to write on this blog a couple of weeks ago, the US Department of Defense, through its DARPA department, is currently looking for tactical ground vehicles which, in case of danger, are equipped with the necessary technology to allow them to escape via vertical takeoff (and the relevant vertical landing) in order to find their way out of danger, with a cruise speed comparable with a light aircraft: in practice, something between an armored vehicle, an helicopter and a small plane.

In response to this search, one of the first manufacturers to respond to the search was AVX, with its TX concept, a flying car which, according to its planners, should be able to carry 4 passengers and a payload of approximately 500 kgs, turning from ground-based to aerial vehicle within only 60 seconds, with automatic vertical takeoff capabilities.

Furthermore, TX is capable of reaching a maximum flight speed of around 230 kilometers per hour, with an operating range of approximately 250 nautical miles, simple and intuitive flight controls, and satellite navigation systems to easily find the destination, both on the ground and in the ayr.

The only weak spot might be its speed on the ground, which exceeds 120 kilometers per hour on a normal road, but drops below 50 in offroad conditions and rough terrain, which might expose T&X to the threat of ambush, and 60 seconds might not be enough to successfully convert it from ground to aerial mode.

Among other features, TX is also able to perform medical evacuations to rescue wounded soldiers, turning one of the seats into a stretcher and carrying the pilot, the wounded passenger and a doctor for medical assistance.

A laser gun puts UAVs in danger

There is not a single day when we do not read news about new UAVs (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, the so-called “drones”) being launched on the market or in design phase, and most of the armies from the Western hemisphere are widely using this kind of devices for reconnaissance or attack missions, to spy behind enemy lines, launch quick attacks or carry heavy equipment without putting lives at risk.

Of course though, enemies can also get devices of this kind, therefore, along with new and ever powerful UAVs, it is necessary to develop an adequate technology that allows armies to defend themselves when it is the enemy that uses this kind of weapon.

For this reason, during the recent Airshow which takes places in Farnborough (UK), the US-based giant Raytheon has showcased its CIWS (Close-In Weapon System) laser gun, which can be used alone or supported by conventional guns, to counter the threat coming from above shooting a single laser beam, invisible to the human eye and around 50-kilowatt strong, which is capable to bring down drones, rockets, mortars and small boats, with extreme precision.

Of course, its efficiency should be put to a harder test, for example against armored jet fighters traveling at much higher speed than a drone, with a human pilot who adds more flexibility to their defense capabilities. In any case, CIWS is an important defense against reconnaissance missions carried out by unmanned aircraft, and can allow for a higher efficiency of behind-the-lines maneuvers, preventing enemies from spying each and every move; all this, naturally, while keeping personnel safe and minimizing the risk of losing lives.

Solar unmanned aircraft for perpetual flight

Just a few days after reading the news about the first ultralight solar powered plane being able to fly nonstop for a full day and night, today we get to read about an ongoing attempt of breaking the endurance record, currently set at approximately 30 hours, for unmanned solar aircraft.

The Zephyr plane, produced by QinetiQ, derived from a previous prototype which has been unofficially flying for more than 82 hours, is already flying since more than a week in the skies over the Arizona desert. It is a solar powered plane that with the light of day can fly thanks to solar panels mounted on its wings, particularly designed and with a span of over 22 meters.

Solar panels are as thick as a sheet of paper, and cover the entire surface of the wings which, thanks to their innovative aerodynamic shape, to the T-shaped tail and to an overall weight of only 50 kgs (allowing for the vehicle to be launched by hand), make Zephyr capable of achieving better performance while minimizing energy consumption.

The energy harnessed during the day is used to charge electric engines which activate at sundown, making it possible to fly during the wee hours, and once again accumulating power by day. Therefore, Zephyr is theoretically capable of flying perpetually, unlike many other aircraft, with or without pilot, which need to touch base every now and then.

Its characteristics open interesting opportunities not only in the field of aerial surveillance, allowing for reconnaissance missions that can last up to weeks or months, by installing the correct photo, video, GPS and transmission equipment. Other possible applications for Zephyr might include observation for scientific use or its usage as a “flying antenna” to relay military or commercial telecommunications.

Thwarting terrorist attacks and finding drugs thanks to radiation

One day, maybe not too far, it might be possible to detect explosive, chemical or biological weapons (the so called “dirty bombs”), as well as the presence of drugs, thanks to optical systems which can detect their presence within a 20-meter range.

This is made possible by the fact that each and every substance emits electromagnetic radiations in the Terahertz (THz) spectrum according to a specific “footprint”, which travels through all materials except metals and liquids. Scientist from the New York state Rensselaer Polytechnic are working on a system that allows to analyze those electromagnetic waves and determine the substance that emits them, in a totally harmless way.

The process is carried out by using two laser light beams, which are pointed together in the air, thus creating a plasma which reacts to the presence of THz waves. By analyzing this fluorescence, its characteristics and the color, scientists are then able to identify the material that emits the radiation, even though the material is tucked away from view, for example inside a cabinet or hidden somewhere in a car.

At the current stage, the test analysis of Terahertz radiations is being carried out only inside scientific labs, but the final aim is to study the possibility to apply this technology to portable instruments, in order to be able to use them for example to scan and search baggage in an airport, to look for explosives hidden in areas at risk of terrorist attacks, or to detect leaks in pipes that carry chemical substances.

The research project, under the wing of the US Department of Defense, aims at using this technology for defensive and industrial purposes within a few years, once the best way to make it portable has been identified.

Directional microphones for remote covert listening

As we said yesterday, possibilities to intercept a suspect’s conversations by law enforcement and detectives are countless, although sometimes one has to cope with a little bit of risk when it’s not possible to use telephone wiretapping and micro bugs.
If you do not have the opportunity to hide in the room next to your subject to pick up his conversations, technology still comes to the rescue, for example thanks to directional microphones.

Directional microphones are microphones with high sensitivity features, and with an operating range which can cover a few tens of meters, up to almost a mile for laser type models. In the first case, one can hide in a car behind a fence to pick up, just to name one, conversations of a drug dealer hidden in a park with his clients.

In case the suspects you want to listen to are taking more precautions and hiding in an apparently safe place like an apartment or hotel room, and there is no safe way to come close, the best solution is a laser microphone. As the name goes, this model uses a laser beal, with an operating range of roughly a mile.

To use it, just point the laser beam at the right angle towards the window behind which your suspects are talking. The laser will now read vibrations in the glass, caused by human voices behind it, will translate them into voices and sounds and transmit them to the detectives, hidden at a safe distance, who can record them and use them as evidence.

There are several possibilities to use directional microphones; we invite you to visit the Endoacustica website to find out and contact our experts.

Glasses to see in the dark… more or less

TAG Heuer, famous all over the world for its chronographs, but also producing accessories such as, among other things, glasses and mobile phones, has just enlarged its collection of eyewear by adding the Squadra Night Vision model which, in its producers’ intentions and judging by the name, should allow its wearer to see in the dark.

Of course, reality is slightly different, these are certainly not a pair of miracle glasses which will give eyesight back to those with night vision issues; it is, anyway, a high quality product capable not only to reduce strain and fatigue on the eyes, but also to enhance contrast allowing its wearer to better make out shapes and obstacles in the dark and act promptly in case of danger.

These glasses feature a single lens which replaces the entire frame (of course, except the arms, which are made up of flexible material and padded with rubber to guarantee maximum flexibility). The lens, thanks to a special treatment, allows for clearer vision in low visibility conditions, for example during night driving.

Thanks to these characteristics, the TAG Heuer night vision glasses have been used by Team Audi drivers who won the Le Mans 24 Hours race this year. If you are no racecar drivers, but need to have the maximum possible sharpness during the dark hours, these classes will surely help you, although they do not exactly come cheap, with a 450-dollar price tag attached.

Certainly, these glasses do not boast that they can make life better for those with serious eyesight issues, and in order to lead a normal life must resort to night vision glasses with completely different characteristics, suitable for the visually impaired.

A biometric access hard drive from Apricom

The need for security has become an absolute must not only for our personal safety, our home or our office, but, in a world that is totally computer-centered, also for our data, either work-related or of a personal nature. To protect it while carrying it, in the unfortunate case of loss of our portable hard drive or USB stick, one can use different levels and systems of security.

This is exactly where Apricom is heading, through the launch of its Aegis Bio, a biometric hard drive which, along with the option to choose among several levels of capacity up to 640 GB to carry your data, allows you to protect them securely against unauthorized access attempts.

Protection is delivered by using an embedded biometric scanner, on which all you have to do is store your fingerprint, to make sure you are really the only one who can access your hard drive. Furthermore, along with a biometric scanner protection and a traditional password access control, Aegis Bio can store the saved data in encrypted format, wit a 128-bit encryption key.

In practice, even if someone should be able to put their hands on your hard drive (in case you lose it or someone steals it from you), it would be basically impossible for them to gain access to your sensitive data, unless they chop off your finger… and ask you the password!

This level of protection can be found on the market at a very convenient price; in fact, the 640 Gb version is on sale at only 160 dollars, a price that makes Aegis Bio a highly competitive accessory in terms of performance, security and quality/cost ratio.