July 24, 2007
DARPA Automatic Transcription Software Helps Consumers Find Podcasts
DARPA’s investment in automatic transcription software to convert speech to text and summarize key points is paying off in the commercial world as well as for the U.S. military. Originally developed to allow military commanders to efficiently keep abreast of large volumes of audio from television or radio news, the same technology now allows consumers to easily find podcasts of interest to them without having to listen to the audio file.

January 5, 2007
Air Mobility Command benefits from DARPA explosive detection technology
In 1996, DARPA began investing in technologies that could emulate the mine-sensing capabilities of dogs. Like dogs, these new sensors can detect the vapors emanating from explosive compounds, even if the explosives are inside containers. This technology is now available in off-the-shelf products that Air Mobility Command will shortly begin to use to check cargo prior to transport.

September 5, 2006
DARPA Biosensor Being Used by Department of Homeland Security
The DARPA-developed Triangulation Identification for Genetic Evaluation of Risk (TIGER) biosensor system was recently delivered to the Department of Homeland Security's National Bioforensic Analysis Center. The TIGER biosensor system is a revolutionary system that can rapidly process a large number of samples and identify thousands of different organisms. The Center will use the TIGER biosensor system for the investigation of crimes involving infectious organisms, allowing law enforcement and public health officials to effectively respond to a biological threat. The system has also been delivered to the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute for Infectious Disease and the Naval Health Research Center and will be delivered to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention later this year.

April 7, 2006
DARPA’s Investment in Shape Memory Alloys Leads to Improved Care for Patients with Heart Disease
DARPA funded research in shape memory alloys in the 1990s. These materials are formed to the desired shape. If the shape is subsequently deformed, it will revert to the original, desired shape when heated. Doctors are now using stents made from shape memory alloys to provide improved care for patients suffering from coronary artery disease. The collapsed stent is inserted into the patient’s artery through a catheter. The unique properties of the shape memory alloy material allow the stent to expand to its desired shape, increasing the diameter of the artery and improving blood flow.

February 9, 2006
DARPA Solid State Laser Technology Transitioning to Military Users
Infared multi-band solid state lasers developed by DARPA form the basis of the laser countermeasure system that protects the Air Force C-130 aircraft from infrared-guided missiles. The Navy is also using DARPA-developed multi-band lasers in their Tactical Aircraft Directed Infrared Countermeasures system, which will provide Navy and Marine Corps aircraft with protection against infrared-guided surface-to-air and air-to-air missiles. And, these same lasers are key to the missile protection system now in development for U.S. commercial aircraft. 

November 8, 2005
DARPA Immune Building Toolkit Assisting Army
Simulation software developed under DARPA’s Immune Building Toolkit (IBTK) program is currently being used by the Army Corps of Engineers’ Protective Design Center. The Army is using IBTK to evaluate how well individual buildings are protected from chemical and biological threats. IBTK is a modeling and planning tool for assessing the effectiveness of various building protection strategies, estimating the building’s protection level, and estimating the cost associated with protection strategies. 

October 10, 2005
DARPA Technology Helps Improve Cell Phones
DARPA research into advanced communications technologies to improve the intelligibility of radio communications in very noisy environments such as tanks and helicopters has resulted in technology that allows cell phone users to hear phone conversations even in the midst of loud background noises. 

August 22, 2005
Army OneSAF Simulation Benefiting from DARPA Technology
An algorithm developed under DARPA’s Polymorphous Computing Architecture program greatly improves the Army’s One Semi-Automated Forces (OneSAF) simulation. OneSAF is the Army’s interactive, high-resolution simulation that represents combined arms tactical operations up to the brigade level. The DARPA-developed algorithm provides an improvement of 200 times in the performance of the line of sight function of the simulation, and was included in OneSAF Block C fielded in February 2005. OneSAF Block C is being distributed to every battalion in the Army (650 sites), as well as every laboratory and simulation center (150 sites).

January 1, 2005
DARPA-developed hybrid bus technology hits the road
DARPA-developed hybrid engine technology has successfully transitioned to municipal transit systems in eight California cities and in seven other states (Texas, Pennsylvania, Minnesota, Oregon, Washington, Colorado, and New Mexico). The transit systems are using buses powered by hybrid engines, combustion engines combined with an electric motor and battery that reduce the buses’ fuel consumption and tailpipe emissions. Technology for the engines was initially developed under the DARPA Hybrid Vehicle Technology Program which began in 1993.  

December 1, 2004
DARPA-developed Phraselator now available to law enforcement and civilian medical community
A one-way voice-to-voice translation device developed with DARPA funding and originally designed for use by U.S. soldiers serving in countries with limited translators has transitioned to the law enforcement and civilian medical community. Specialized phrases unique to the law enforcement and medical communities allow English speakers to communicate effectively with those that speak little or no English. The user simply speaks a phrase into the device and in seconds the Phraselator repeats the translated phrase in the language selected.

November 1, 2004
DARPA water purification devices in use during hurricane recovery efforts in Florida
In response to the hurricane disaster in Florida, the Florida National Guard has begun distribution and evaluation of a DARPA-developed water purification device. The handheld device is about the size of a magic marker and uses electrolysis to eliminate common water-borne pathogens such as E. Coli, Giardia, Cryptosporidium, as well as chemical agents like VX nerve gas, soman, blister agent lewisite, and biological agents such as anthrax, plague, and smallpox. The device has an indefinite shelf-life, and will purify one gallon of water at a time, and up to 50 gallons of water for the life of the batteries.

September 7, 2004
DARPA Tactical Robots Deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan
PackBot robots, originally developed under DARPA’s Tactical Mobile Robotics program, are now deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan. The robots are used for reconnaissance of dangerous and inaccessible areas. They act as eyes and ears for soldiers, and provide real-time intelligence while keeping soldiers out of harm’s way. The robots are lightweight and rugged and can be carried and deployed by a single soldier.

January 25, 2004
DARPA Technology Provides 30 Percent Increase in Aircraft Availability During Operation Iraqi Freedom
U.S. Marine AV-8B squadrons deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom using DARPA’s Autonomous Negotiating Teams scheduling tools experienced a 30 percent increase in aircraft availability over similar squadrons not using the new technology. The Autonomous Negotiating Teams software will also be used by the Joint Strike Fighter program and two Marine Air Groups. Autonomous Negotiating Teams technology uses software agents to resolve ambiguities and conflicts that arise in real-time scheduling and mission planning.

January 7, 2004
U.S. Army Body Armor Using DARPA Technology
Soldiers in Iraq are benefiting from DARPA investments in advanced materials in the 1990s. DARPA developed and demonstrated personal body armor inserts made of boron carbide. These boron carbide inserts are lighter weight than the previous materials, and are being used in the Army Interceptor Body Armor system in Iraq, which weighs 35 percent less than the former vest. The new system consists of a tactical vest and two protective boron carbide inserts. Worn alone, the vest protects the soldier from shrapnel and 9mm pistol rounds. By adding the protective inserts to the vest, the system acts as a ballistic barrier to 7.62 rifle ammunition. The Interceptor Body Armor system protects soldiers against rifle projectiles and shrapnel from mines, grenades, mortar shells and artillery fire. 

November 25, 2003
Air Force’s Desert Hawk Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Uses DARPA Technology  
DARPA’s Micro Air Vehicle Technology program, which ended in September 2000, demonstrated numerous vehicles and systems needed to enable very small UAVs; the program goal was no larger than six inches in any direction, with military mission utility. The Air Force’s deployed Desert Hawk unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) system traces its roots back to technologies originally developed and flight tested by DARPA’s Micro Air Vehicle program. The Desert Hawk is a small UAV that the Air Force is using in the Middle East to survey the perimeter of U.S. Air Force Bases. The Desert Hawk can fly at altitudes of less than 1,000 feet and can see about 10 kilometers beyond the perimeter of the base. With the Desert Hawk UAV, soldiers no longer need to go in harm’s way to inspect the base perimeter on foot.

October 25, 2003
DARPA Technology Helps Fight Forest Fires
Aerial firefighters are using uncooled infrared technology pioneered by DARPA to see through the smoke that obscures forest fires and to accurately map flame fronts. These detectors are enabled by a breakthrough technology, the microbolometer, developed by DARPA-funded researchers. Prior to this breakthrough, infrared detectors had to be cooled to cryogenic temperatures. Uncooled infrared detectors operate at room-temperature and are less costly. In addition, most currently fielded cooled detectors are not configured to discriminate between very high temperature flame fronts and ash or hot ground. The capabilities of the uncooled microbolometer are essential to accurately map forest fires.

September 25, 2003
DARPA Water Purification Technology Purchased by Military Services
DARPA-funded technology is key to a new portable water purifier now being purchased for use by U.S. Marines and other warfighters. The purifier is a lightweight, handheld device about the size of a magic-marker that uses electricity to convert common table salt and water into a powerful disinfectant that eliminates germs such as e. coli, giardia, cryptosporidium, anthrax, plague, and tularemia as well as the chemical warfare agents VX nerve gas, soman, and lewisite. Unlike current purification methods such as iodine tablets or bleach, the purifier does not leave an unpleasant aftertaste in the water.

May 30, 2003
DARPA Technology Assisting Homeland Security
U.S. Bureau of Customs and Border Protection plans to install a new video surveillance system at ports of entry along the U.S./Canadian border. The system, which detects, identifies and analyzes objects automatically and in real-time, is based on technologies originally developed under DARPA’s Video Surveillance and Monitoring program.

April 29, 2002
DARPA Investment in Optical Components and Subcomponents Making a Difference
DARPA’s Very Large Scale Integration (VLSI) Photonics program was instrumental in furthering the development of the Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting Laser (VCSEL). VCSELs are critical subsystems for advanced optical processing and networking. Contractors who were first supported by DARPA are now selling commercial variants of their optical components. These components, thanks in large part to VCSELs and DARPA’s past support, eliminate throughput bottlenecks in data communications while reducing power consumption, circuit board space and cost. 

July 25, 2002
U.S. Air Force AMRAAM Upgrade Using DARPA Technology
sSoftware algorithms and processing techniques developed under DARPA funding are being used in the Phase 3 AMRAAM upgrade to counter advanced electronic countermeasures. DARPA developed an innovative algorithm that is up to 10 times faster than conventional processing methods and costs less. The technique uses an novel algorithm to improve radar processing capabilities.

June 3, 2002
IBM Using DARPA Technology for Grid Computing. 
Summer 2001, IBM announced a major new initiative in grid computing—an emerging concept that allows computational capacity to be sold on an as-needed basis over high-speed networks. Globus grid computing software developed with DARPA and Department of Energy funding is enabling this new computing concept. Globus is also being used for the National Science Foundation’s Distributed Terascale Computing Facility. The military demonstrated Globus in 1998 with the largest-ever synthetic forces simulation – more than 100,000 entities were simulated on 1,386 processors distributed over nine sites spanning seven time zones. Globus is an integrated collection of resource brokering and security services that allows computing resources to be shared across autonomous administrative domains. It was developed under the DARPA Quorum program. 

March 18, 2002
DARPA Technology Assists Defense Logistics Agency
The Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) uses an automated procurement system, the DLA Electronic Long Term Arrangements (DELTA), which relies on a revolutionary information system technology developed in cooperation with DARPA. DELTA determines the best source of supplies for military customers, based on business rules established by DLA managers. The system automatically receives, manages and processes requests from the military services and issues delivery orders directly to vendors. DELTA was built using the DARPA/DLA-developed Cognitive Agent Architecture. This architecture is open source, and available to other potential users. 

February 7, 2002
DARPA Display Technology Used by U.S. Army Comanche Helicopter 
In the early 1990s, DARPA developed and successfully demonstrated monochrome, one-inch square active matrix liquid crystal displays for potential use in ground vehicles, helicopters and soldier head-mounted displays. In 1998, the U.S. Army chose a DARPA contractor (Kopin Corp.) to supply the miniature active matrix liquid crystal display for the head-mounted display for the RAH-66 Comanche helicopter.

December 20, 2001
DARPA Agent Markup Language Chosen for Bioinformatics
The Bio-Ontologies Consortium, a working group of leading pharmaceutical and bioinformatics researchers from academia and industry, has endorsed the DARPA Agent Markup Language as the “language of choice for the exchange of ontological information in bioinformatics.” 

November 20, 2001
DARPA Technology Assists Hospital Emergency Rooms
Ten Northern Virginia emergency rooms are using a new computer tracking system based on DARPA-developed technology. The Critical Care Tracking System is Internet-based and instantly tells 911 operators which hospitals are full and where to send critical patients. Previously, dispatchers received the updates by fax. DARPA developed the technology to allow military medical teams to easily monitor an influx of casualties.

October 16, 2001
DARPA Legacy in Today’s Electric And Hybrid Electric Vehicles 
DARPA’s Electric and Hybrid Vehicle program (1993 - 1999) sponsored the development of components and technologies for electric and hybrid electric vehicles. It also demonstrated a number of these vehicles. As a result, electric and hybrid electric vehicles are being used more widely commercially.

• Ford Motor Company’s Think electric car will be sold starting in 2002.
•  REVA Electric Car Company and Amerigon have started joint production of electric cars in India.
• New York City, Tampa, FL, and Tempe, AZ, are all using electric and hybrid buses.
• Hyundai is producing electric and hybrid electric sport utility vehicles for demonstration in Hawaii - the drive systems for these vehicles are produced by Enova Systems, a participant in the DARPA Electric and Hybrid Vehicle program.

September 10, 2001
DARPA Contributes to National Imagery and Mapping Agency Radar Mapping System
A new, dual-frequency airborne radar mapping system will allow the National Imagery and Mapping Agency to map the earth beneath foliage and other vegetation. The new system, known as the Geographic Synthetic Aperture Radar or GeoSAR system, will rapidly map vast areas where limited data exist from other sources. The system's three-dimensional terrain models will support force mobility analyses, target detection, and a variety of slope and littoral analyses for military operational planning. GeoSAR also provides civilian users with data to better understand seismic change in forested areas, assess forest fire damage, or measure timber volumes and biomass. DARPA sponsored early technology development of GeoSAR in the 1990s. 

August 9, 2001
DARPA Collaboration Software In Use
Government organizations and companies are starting to use collaboration software developed by DARPA. The Department of Energy’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory are using the Habanero portion of the Integrated Synchronous and Asynchronous Collaboration project as the basis of their Scientist’s Notebook effort within the Department of Energy 2000 Collaboratories program. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory is using Habanero for collaborative, real-time access to Pacific Ocean observation buoy data. Habanero and the Integrated Synchronous and Asynchronous Collaboration were developed by the University of Illinois under DARPA’s Intelligent Collaboration and Visualization program. They allow multi-modal collaboration over long distances without requiring all participants to be constantly connected, allowing users to analyze and discuss a team effort in real-time. 

July 24, 2001
DARPA biofluidic device allows painless blood monitoring
DARPA’s investment in biofluidic devices has led to the development of micro-needles able to painlessly draw blood. These devices will shortly be available for a more painless method of diabetic blood glucose monitoring. As this micro-needle and microfluidic analysis technology is further developed and commercialized, DoD will benefit from the availability of methods for minimally invasive medical monitoring of soldiers on the battlefield. 

July 10, 2001
DARPA Autonomous Negotiating Team technology successfully schedules military flight schedules
DARPA’s autonomous, agent-based negotiating techniques were demonstrated at U.S. Marine Corps Air Station, Yuma, Ariz. The DARPA-funded “Schedules Negotiated by Agent-based Planners” system created weekly and daily flight schedules for 300 missions, making changes on a minutes’ notice when necessary.

June 27, 2001
DARPA fuel cells power U.S Marine Corps radio and computer
DARPA demonstrated proton exchange membrane fuel cell technology as part of a military exercise at the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center at 29 Palms, Calif. The fuel cells were powered by hydrogen tanks and were mounted on a HMMWV, and powered a SINCGARS radio network and a laptop computer. Because of the rugged location, generators could not be used. The fuel cells replaced batteries, with a single-day cost savings estimated at over $800.

June 11, 2001
Army Using DARPA Low-Cost Interceptor Technology

According to Defense Daily (Vol. 208, No.12), the Army Space and Missile Defense Command will use DARPA technology in its program to develop a low-cost interceptor to defend against low-cost cruise missiles. The Army is interested in adapting DARPA’s Miniature Air Launched Interceptor for a ground-launched vehicle. The Army also plans to use conformal optics on the interceptor - DARPA’s investment in design tools and fabrication techniques for conformal missile domes made this technology viable.

April 23, 2001
Air Force Using DARPA Laser for Aircraft Countermeasures

DARPA-developed laser technology will be used for the Air Force’s Large Aircraft Infrared Countermeasure (LAIRCM) program. LAIRCM is designed to protect large aircraft from man-portable heat-seeking missiles. The Air Force selected the diode-pumped mid-infrared solid-state laser, developed in the DARPA Compact Lasers program, to provide multi-band laser technology for Phase I of the LAIRCM program. The Air Force also plans to use DARPA-developed laser technologies in Phase II of the program, which will provide more affordable countermeasures able to protect against future threats.

March 30, 2001
Did you know? DARPA legacy in the Joint Strike Fighter
The Joint Strike Fighter program is developing and demonstrating an affordable family of next-generation strike fighter aircraft. DARPA played a major role in the early phases of this important program! DARPA began managing the Advanced Short Takeoff Vertical Landing program in 1988. By 1992, the effort had become known as the Common Affordable Lightweight Fighter program, with a goal of demonstrating a short takeoff, vertical landing aircraft for the U.S. Marine Corps. In 1994, the DARPA program was merged with the joint Air Force/Navy Joint Advanced Strike Technology program. This merged effort became the Joint Strike Fighter program in 1996!

For the whole story click here.

March 27, 2001
Ability to simulate gunshot wounds provides realistic training

March 2, 2001

Army and Navy using DARPA’s Dial-a-Tank simulation tool  

A DARPA-sponsored simulation tool called “Dial-a-Tank” is being used for Army FORCE XXI and the Navy Joint Countermine Operational Simulation. Dial-a-Tank allows weapons system designers to define and construct a simulated weapon system and use it in a simulated battle for testing and evaluation without having to involve a software engineer.  Dial-a-Tank was developed by Mäk Technologies Inc. under DARPA’s Small Business Innovation Research program.

February 13, 2001
Army Using DARPA Low-Cost Interceptor Technology

According to Defense Daily (Vol. 208, No.12), the Army Space and Missile Defense Command will use DARPA technology in its program to develop a low-cost interceptor to defend against low-cost cruise missiles. The Army is interested in adapting DARPA’s Miniature Air Launched Interceptor for a ground-launched vehicle. The Army also plans to use conformal optics on the interceptor - DARPA’s investment in design tools and fabrication techniques for conformal missile domes made this technology viable.

January 22, 2001
MALD transitioning to the Air Force

DARPA is in the process of transitioning the Miniature Air Launched Decoy (MALD) Advanced Concept Technology Demonstration Follow-on Program to the Air Force’s Lethal Suppression of Enemy Defenses Program Office at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. The Air Force is considering a limited “Silver Bullet” procurement of 100 to 150 MALDs. MALD will provide the ability to achieve air superiority by confusing enemy air defense systems. [Full story]

January 9, 2001
DARPA TIDES analyzes foreign radio broadcasts in real-time
DARPA’s Translingual Information Detection, Extraction and Summarization (TIDES) program participated in Joint Service Humanitarian Assistance Experiment Strong Angel. TIDES reviewed foreign radio broadcasts in real-time, providing operators with information on biological events and diseases. The system also automatically transcribed the broadcast into text and further extracted needed information.

January 2, 2001
DARPA sensor development leads to "camera in a pill"
DARPA investment in advanced imaging sensors and CMOS semiconductor technology has led to the development of a camera on a chip.  These so-called CMOS image sensors plus a transmitter are inserted into pill-sized capsules and given to patients to swallow, allowing doctors a unique view of the digestive tract.

December 5, 2000
U.S. Marine Corps using DARPA’s HUMRAAM for their CLAWS
The U.S Marine Corps is including DARPA’s HUMRAAM, which integrated five Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAMs) with launchers onto a High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (HUMVEE), in their Complementary Low Altitude Weapon System. The Army is also interested in the capabilities of the HUMRAAM as a complement to shorter-range Stinger missile systems. The Stinger is guided by an infrared seeker and the AMRAAMs of the HUMRAAM concept use radar guidance, making it difficult for adversaries to defeat both systems with countermeasures.

October 23, 2000
DARPA Research Funding Leads to FirstGov Search Engine
Last month, President Clinton launched the Federal government’s first one-stop portal to the World Wide Web. The site,www.firstgov.gov, employs a powerful, privately developed search engine to link together 20,000 U.S. government Internet sites. The FirstGov search engine, FedSearch, was developed and donated by Eric Brewer of Inktomi Corp.Brewer told The Washington Post that he had “founded Inktomi with research funded by DARPA in 1994.”(Spencer Hsu, “New Site Streamlines Online Government,” The Washington Post, September 23, 2000, A5)

October 2, 2000
DARPA "central" to success of Global Hawk  
Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Advanced Concepts and Systems Joseph Eash noted in a recent editorial in Aviation Week & Space Technology (August 7, 2000) that the Global Hawk unmanned aerial vehicle was "demonstrating unprecedented capabilities." In explaining the success of Global Hawk, Dr. Eash pointed to the Advanced Concept Technology Demonstration process. He also highlighted the talented technical team at the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency and noted that it and the Air Force’s 31st Test and Evaluation Squadron had been central to ensuring "Global Hawk success."

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