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from the I'm-sure-I-parked-it-around-here-somewhere dept.
DARPA is developing a hybrid-powered motorcycle to soundlessly penetrate remote areas and execute complex, lightning-fast raids. The idea is to develop a hybrid power system that relies on both electric and gas power, allowing special ops to go off-road and zip past enemy forces with the silence of an electric engine, while also being able to handle extended missions and higher speeds with a supplemental gas tank. "Quieted, all-wheel-drive capability at extended range in a lightweight, rugged, single-track vehicle could support the successful operations of U.S. expeditionary and special forces in extreme terrain conditions and contested environments," says Wade Pulliam of Logos Technologies which was awarded a contract for a preliminary design to see just how viable the project is. "With a growing need to operate small units far from logistical support, the military may increasingly rely on adaptable, efficient technologies like this hybrid-electric motorcycle."
Logos plans to fit its quieted, multifuel hybrid-electric power system with an all-electric bike from San Francisco-based manufacturer BRD Motorcycles that uses an existing (and what BRD calls "barely legal") racing bike, the RedShift MX, a 250-pound all-electric moto that retails for $15,000. The RedShift MX has a two hour range, but will be extended with a gas tank the size of which will be determined by the military in the research period. The focus on the electric element suggests that DARPA is more concerned with the stealthiness of the motorcycle than it is efficiency. "The team is excited to have such a mature, capable system from which to build, allowing an accelerated development cycle that could not be achieved otherwise," says Pulliam.
(Score: 5, Funny) by Jerry Smith on Sunday April 27 2014, @07:21AM
How about researching something that DOESN'T have "enemy forces" in its description?
All those moments will be lost in time, like tears in rain. Time to die.
(Score: 2) by maxwell demon on Sunday April 27 2014, @08:28AM
Well, this is DARPA. It's whole reason of existence is about having "enemy forces" in their description.
The Tao of math: The numbers you can count are not the real numbers.
(Score: 4, Interesting) by Jerry Smith on Sunday April 27 2014, @11:29AM
"Enemy forces" being who? Either it will be used on own citizens or sold worldwide to the highest bidders.
All those moments will be lost in time, like tears in rain. Time to die.
(Score: 2) by tibman on Sunday April 27 2014, @04:00PM
The internet evolved from a DARPA project called ARPANET. I hope this improves your image of government research : )
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(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday April 27 2014, @07:33PM
You're pointing to a communications system developed to survive A NUCLEAR WAR.
What else ya got?
-- gewg_
(Score: 2) by tibman on Monday April 28 2014, @05:36AM
Since we haven't had a nuclear war i can only guess you're saying the internet was a failure for mankind? lol. Okay okay, how about GPS and Tor? GPS we can ignore because it obviously can be used on guided weapons. But GPSR are very useful to everyday people. Tor's usefulness i leave up to you.
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(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday April 28 2014, @06:52PM
Re: civilian utility: All good points.
My only possible rebuttal/parry would be to mention the prices associated with "defense" projects; I wonder how much cheaper we could have gotten these if the bucks hadn't been funneled through the military-industrial complex.
In hindsight, some things e.g. packet switching and onion routing are obvious and one might easily assume that that would have sprung up before very long anyway.
Now, I'll grant you that GPS satellites are in another league.
-- gewg_