Article Entry
09 Apr 2009
Comments:7
DARPA Wants to See Through Concrete Walls; What Will They Think of Next?
Added by USGIF Category: Daily Intelligence Brief, General
Let’s face it. DARPA is always on the bleeding-edge when it comes to developing advanced technologies for defense. Just when you think they have outdone themselves, they come up with something even more mind-blowing. DARPA’s latest foray is into developing technologies that actually see through concrete walls, meaning there is no place for insurgents to hide.
CNET broke this story today. And big thanks to our friends at Directions APB blog for bringing this story to our attention. The purpose of this new DARPA technology, called the Comprehensive Interior Reconnaissance program, is to negate the home field advantage of our enemies — allowing soldiers to look through concrete walls, providing a detailed picture of a building’s interior–right down to the fixtures. That is correct. Right down to the fixtures.
The proposed scanning system would allow for a clear view of an entire structure, including basements and infrastructure systems including electrical, plumbing, and ventilation — all accurate to within one yard. Another benefit to this technology is that soldiers can see if there are children and families inside the structures, minimizing any collateral damages, as well as providing the option to not “kick in doors.”
What do you all think about this technology? Certainly seems like a more sophisticated and targeted approach to urban war tactics abroad. We welcome your thoughts on this.
Tags: CNET, Comprehensive Interior Reconnaissance Program, DARPA, Directions APB blog, GEOINT, Intelligence Community, Scanning, Survellience, U.S. Military, United States Geospatial Intelligence Foundation
From Linked-In:
“Reality is; not what they (DARPA) can come up with, but what can private industry & individuals creative, innovative ideas conceptualize to get funded through SBIR (Small Business Innovative Research)?”
From Linked-In:
Glass blocks work fairly well if you put enough of them in.
From Linked-In:
A millimeter wave system now sees though clothing to look for guns at LAX.
From Linked-In:
This technology will save lives on both sides of the war. I see many uses in the United States for Dept of Homeland Security to be able to monitor buildings.
From Linked-In:
Sometimes it seems that DARPA’s creed should be: “If you can do it, we’re not interested.” That’s not a criticism; someone has to push the state-of-the-art.
It is possible to see through walls today. There’s a sizable market for devices that can inspect concrete bridges, roadways and foundations for cracks, water damage and other defects. But what can be seen today is not something that can be used by a soldier, so he or she won’t have to “kick down doors.” Enter DARPA.
I’m not sure if anyone keeps score, but DARPA’s batting average is probably not very high. But better to fail at DARPA than in Iraq, Afghanistan, or tomorrow’s battlefield.
Who knows? Maybe someday a GI can walk up to a house, place a hand-held device against the wall and see what’s inside, saving lives in the process. Maybe not. The potential payoff is certainly worth the investment.
Comment from Linked-In:
If it wasn’t very leading cutting edge stuff – DARPA wouldn’t even take it on man. Those guys are incredible.
[...] spot heat sources, maybe even through walls. Speaking of seeing through walls, you all may recall our story about DARPA developing technologies to do just that with the Comprehensive Interior Reconnaissance [...]