Soldier Toys Today, Civilian Toys Tomorrow
Many technologies originally developed for military applications trickle down to the civilian sector–duct tape and the Global Positioning System (GPS) being just a few examples.
Innovations currently being tested on the battlefields of Iraq that could be retooled for civilian use include unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), whose wartime operations include remote bombing and surveillance.
Examples of UAVs include the Dragon Eye, a portable, laptop-controlled surveillance drone that soldiers can launch with a bungee cord, and the Predator attack vehicle.
A representative for UAV vendor AeroVironment notes such vehicles could become civilian tools, if they are modified to comply with FAA guidelines and operate within frequencies specified by the FCC.
Institute for the Future director Paul Saffo predicts that civilians will be using UAVs widely within five years, to the point that enthusiasts will be able to purchase or assemble paperback-sized drones, although he believes the technology’s major applications will be for law enforcement, traffic monitoring, and forest fire management.
Owen Cote of MIT’s Security Studies Program expects wide civilian usage for sensors and enhanced radar technologies; possible applications include collision-avoidance systems for cars, and portable health monitoring systems.
Another military innovation is the Navy’s “deployable” hospital, a mobile medical facility equipped with wireless networks, computer server connectivity, voice-over-Internet-telephony, and “ruggedized” laptops and peripherals that can withstand wear and tear.
Alex Roland of Duke University believes that warfare itself will undergo a transformation into a largely casualty-free, computer-controlled enterprise thanks to the convergence of unmanned vehicle and sensor technology.
Abstracted by the National Law Enforcement and Corrections Technology Center(NLECTC) from the Washington Post (03/28/03) P. E1; Krim, Jonathan.