battlefield

The day may be getting a little closer when robots will perform surgery on patients in dangerous situations or in remote locations, such as on the battlefield or in space, with minimal human guidance.

Monster US arms'n'aerospace outfit Boeing is pleased as punch this week to announce that it has "successfully demonstrated" its new Humvee-mounted raygun, the Laser Avenger - intended to prove "that directed energy weapons are relevant to today's battlefield, and ready to be fielded".

Army information technology managers need to develop the service’s LandWarNet to deliver key information to soldiers without overwhelming them, Army Secretary Peter Geren said recently, adding that “we cannot afford a modernization holiday.” Speaking last week at the LandWarNet conference in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Geren stressed the importance of equipping soldiers with information about their situation without overwhelming them.