Google Buys DARPA’s Favorite Robotics Lab
Boston Dynamics became the eighth robotics firm Google has purchased in the past six months. Current military contracts will be honored, say Google execs, but the company doesn’t seek to become a military contractor on its own.
Pentagon Avoids Immediate Cuts
Deal would avert another government shutdown, halve sequestration cuts for the current fiscal year and fund the government through October 2015. Pentagon spending cuts scheduled for January would be avoided while Defense spending is increased by $2 billion over last year.
Space Planes, Spy Planes and Supersonic Planes
Lockheed, Boeing and Northrup have designs for NASA’s supersonic plane in 2025 and DARPA has plans for a space plane even sooner.
Tougher Tests for X-47B; Repriced JSF Could Win S. Korea
Increasingly complicated testing aboard carriers defines 2014 for the X-47B and increasing foreign sales of the JSF could reduce the jets’ costs.
House Partisanship Draws Government Closer to Shut-down
Partisanship drags US toward closure while one Democrat and two Republican governors ally to strengthen their chances for an FAA drone designation..
Americans Rank Military Top Contributor to Society’s Well-being
The Atlas robot reports in to Robotics Challenge, Pax team designed safer flight deck uniforms, international cyber discussions expand but legislatively US cybersecurity looks to weaken.
Hackers Did Not Compromise Weapons Systems
Cyberattacks are not unexpected, DARPA wants them as predictable as conventional warfare stratagems.
F-35 Facing Software Challenges, Cyber Threat Concerns
Hill testimony airs JFS concerns even as Norway confirms F-35 purchase plans.
Navy Seeks to Modify Sequestered Contracts
The Navy wants to obtain contract modifications for programs who will run out of cash because of sequestration.
‘Hail Mary’ Sequestration Bill Hits the House
Rep. Randy Forbes offers a “Hail Mary play” to end sequestration.
