• Developing the Groundwork for Bat-Inspired Micro Air Vehicles (MAVs)

    Air Force-funded researchers from several universities are studying the flexible, flapping wings routinely used by bats and insects and mimicking their biological attributes to improve agility, speed and adaptability in MAV systems. The Air Force Office of Scientific Research manages two projects on

  • AFRL leverages gaming technology for interactive military training

    Blending commercial gaming technology with military-specific databases, researchers at the Air Force Research Laboratory's 711th Human Performance Wing have demonstrated quicker, less expensive ways to develop the next generation of tools for interactive military training. The 711th HPW's Human

  • New tool assures aircraft material integrity, performance

    Air Force researchers working with industry have developed and effectively demonstrated a portable, handheld, rugged, nondestructive evaluation technology that measures in real time the electrical properties of specialty materials underneath the exterior coating of advanced military aircraft. The

  • AFRL dedicates new FIRST lab facility

    Air Force Research Laboratory commander Maj. Gen. Curtis M. Bedke cut the ribbon here Nov. 19 on the Facility for Innovative Research in Structures Technology (FIRST), a $3 million in-house experimental validation facility in Building 65. FIRST brings together the existing AFRL Advanced Structural

  • Gen. Hoffman assumes leadership of AF Materiel Command

    Gen. Donald J. Hoffman assumed command of the organization responsible for the technology, acquisition, test and sustainment of the service's current and future weapon systems during a ceremony here Nov. 21. General Hoffman took the reins of Air Force Materiel Command from Gen. Bruce Carlson during

  • Comprehensive Integrated Defense Analysis Improves Security

    AFRL researchers developed a new methodology for assessing security risks and are now in the process of developing ForcePRO, a supporting software tool. AFRL's newly established methodology and companion software transform traditional vulnerability assessment into a true risk management process. The

  • Air Force Considers Applications of Jamming Model

    Granular solids (e.g., salt or sand) and viscous liquids (e.g., toothpaste or wood glue) can behave like solids or liquids, depending on conditions. When these fragile-state materials stop flowing, scientists refer to the transition from fluidity as "jamming." With funding from AFRL, Dr. Pirouz

  • Lab-Funded Transparent Coating Repels Water

    A team of AFRL-sponsored researchers developed a transparent coating that causes water to bead up into drops and roll or bounce off the surface. This technology will help protect and sustain Air Force systems by preventing corrosion and reducing ice formation on optical elements and aircraft. The

  • AFRL Tests 3D-LZ Risk Reduction Technology

    AFRL tested an industry-developed receiver preprocessor built for an upcoming three-dimensional landing zone (3D-LZ) program aimed at mitigating helicopter brownout via high-performance LADAR [light amplification for detection and ranging]-based technology. The Office of the Secretary of Defense

  • AFRL Develops Miniature Reconfigurable Sensor Processor for UAV Applications

    AFRL developed a reconfigurable sensor processor suitable for unmanned air vehicle (UAV) applications. The unit's compact dimensions reflect the engineering effort to reduce not only the size of existing high-performance computing devices, but the associated power requirements and weight as well.