By David Mantey, Editor, PD&D
While it appears that some innovations may find a spot on the backburner as the economic belt continues to tighten, national security will not be one of them.
The term ‘terrorist’ is hot-button enough to fire into a 15-minute debate with strangers as you wait for the bus in the morning.
Motivated not to commit past mistakes, the majority will continue to pledge undying support for any innovation that will help them sleep after they tuck their kids in under the red, white and blue hue of their unofficial President Obama nightlights.
While most individuals have their eyes on stimulus spending and Obama’s first term, we all have a passionate opinion towards the War on Terror.
That passion is what drew my eyes to a recent paper from the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT). Scientists at RIT are currently designing a new optical sensor to fly in unmanned air vehicles (surveillance drones) tracking suspects on foot or traveling in vehicles identified as a threat.
John Kerekes, associate professor at RIT's Chester F. Carlson Center for Imaging Science, won a $1 million Discovery Challenge Thrust grant from the Air Force Office of Scientific Research to design efficient sensors using multiple imaging techniques to track an individual or a vehicle.
It seems that military technology is continuing to acknowledge that we’re no longer fighting an open war. We’re fighting small cells of individuals that pose "asymmetric threats."
Kerekes’ sensor will collect only the data it needs. As the sensor assesses a situation, it will choose the best sensing mode for the purpose, picking from black-and-white imaging, hyperspectral or polarization.
Developing two strands of information—one about the target, the other about the background environment—is the key.
According to RIT, the sensor will collect a black-and-white image of a target and record the shape of the object.
A hyperspectral image will plot the object's color as it appears in multiple wavelengths. This mode will tell the difference between a couple of blue cars passing by at the same time.
Polarization, the third imagery mode, will cut through glare and give information about surface roughness. It will provide details that distinguish between objects of similar color and shape with the ability to lock onto unique material properties.
The golden ticket reads "War on Terror," and while money can be sunk into other projects, one surefire spending solution in a recession remains in all things military related.
Along with the sensors, cameras and communication towers integrated into the Department of Homeland Security’s new Electronic Immigration Gatekeeper, the majority remains in unwavering support against the War on Terror — and all the 007/Jack Bauer-like gadgets that support it.
Markets will continue to grow.
Even if the markets in question aren’t in your company’s wheelhouse, it’s important to consider expanding portfolio diversity. Too often a company has the capability to dip into other markets, but the company is too set in its ways to change.
It’s not just time to be innovative; it’s time to be a little more creative.
What's your take? Send comments to david.mantey@advantagemedia.com