Engineering Newswire: See Through Armor Developed From Fighter Plane Tech

4D Tech Allows for Self-Folding Objects

Researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology and the Singapore University of Technology and Design have demonstrated a four-dimensional printing technology that allows them to create complex self-folding structures.

Made from multiple smart-shape memory materials that all respond differently to heat, the structures can change shape in an organized sequence by printing the various materials throughout the object. When the materials are heated, they all respond at a different rate to change their shape. According to the researchers, by timing these changes, the 3d objects can be programmed to self-assemble.

'See-Through' Armored Vehicle System

BAE Systems’ BattleView 360 digital mapping system lets the crew of a tank see through the metal confines. At its core, BattleView360 collects, displays, and tracks the positions of all surrounding features in 2- or 3D modes. The displayed imagery helps crew identify friendly and enemy forces, and can be used to generate safer routes out of the view of the enemy.

The technology stems from a system developed for use in advanced fighter planes, and uses a touchscreen and helmet-mounted interface to visualize data collected from a host of sensors on the hull of the vehicle.

3D Printed House Powered By 3D Printed Vehicle

The Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory has unveiled a demonstration that combines clean energy tech into not just a 3D printed building, but also a 3D printed vehicle. All to showcase a new approach to energy use, storage and consumption.

Dubbed the Additive Manufacturing Integrated Energy demonstration, the model is an example of a public/private-partnership for energy-efficient systems that link together buildings, vehicles and the grid.