Russia defence & technology updates

[Bahamut]

Bombastic! Russia Unveils Kamikaze Robotic Tank © Photo: Youtube/ Тoparmy

RUSSIA 10:31 04.10.2016(updated 10:35 04.10.2016) Get short URL 54688461 Russian army scouts and Special Ops troops will soon add to their arsenal a unique kamikaze robot capable of destroying enemy tanks and fortifications by getting close to them and blowing itself up, Izvestia wrote. Highly maneuverable and silent, this miniature robotic tank, built at the Degtyarev Plant in Kovrov, will sneak up on its target totally unnoticed and take the enemy by surprise. “The Nerekhta system has been put on the list of future fighting robots currently being mulled for use by the Russian Armed Forces, a Defense Ministry official told the newspaper. “If the combat platform passes the tests, it will enter service with our army scouts and Special Ops troops.” The Nerekhta is built around a light armored rubber-track platform and looks like a miniature tank where the turret is replaced with an explosives-packed container. Weighing 300 kilograms and just over one meter long, the Nerekhta can haul hundreds of kilograms of high explosives at 11 km/h in a silent mode. Before it goes into combat a map of the the battlefield with the coordinates of the designated targets is downloaded to its onboard computer. All its operators need to do is just push a button clicking the number of the downloaded targets and leave the rest to this powerful tank. Receiving the radio command, the Nerekhta will plot its course to the target, approach it and blow it up. This is exactly what the Nerekhta did when it was unveiled to the public during the Army-2016 expo outside Moscow. “A robotic arm will eventually be added on to make the Nerekhta reusable. It will unload the explosive charge and return to base. We also want to make it move faster,” the Degtyarev Plant’s deputy chief designer Dmitry Fufayev told Izvestia. The idea of self-destroying robots is not new. One such unit was used by the Germans during WWII. It was a remotely operated miniature tank hauling 100 kilograms and used to destroy tanks, fortifications and enemy manpower. Nerekhta-like kamikaze robots are also being developed in Israel (Rambot) and South Korea (iRobit First Look). These miniature machines are mainly designed for indoor use against terrorists and criminals. “Foreign-made kamikaze robots are nothing more than radio-operated grenades that are placed inside a building to take out the bad guys hiding inside. By contrast, the Nerekhta can destroy tanks and entire buildings, is pretty small and highly maneuverable,” military historian Alexei Khlopotov said. © SPUTNIK/ VLADIMIR ASTAPKOVICH Russia's Nerekhta-2 Combat Robot to Be Presented in 2016 Russia is working on robotizing its armed forces to develop combat robots able to act independently on the battlefield. The past few years have seen the advent of a number of track-type battle robotic systems armed with machineguns and anti-tank rocket launchers. Some of them, such as Platforma-M and Uran, are now being actively tested in the Russian Army.

Read more: https://sputniknews.com/russia/20161004/1045973096/russia-kamikaze-tank.html

 

[Bahamut]

Russian Scientists Develop Substance to Produce Flexible Displays © Photo: Pixabay

TECH 14:25 05.10.2016(updated 14:32 05.10.2016) Get short URL 123960 Russian scientists have developed a substance for producing flexible displays. NOVOSIBIRSK (Sputnik) — Russian scientists from the Novosibirsk State University (NSU) together with a group of experts from the Dutch University of Groningen have developed a substance, which can be used in the production of flexible displays for different electronic devices, the NSU press service said Wednesday. "The scientists have developed a solid state substance on the basis of the furfurane-phenylene cooligomer with a quantum yield of luminescence of over 65 percent, which can be used for the production of organic light-emitting transistors and flexible electronic devices," the press service said. © REUTERS/ TT NEWS AGENCY/ANDERS WIKLUND 'I Basically Stumbled on This': Trio of Physicists Awarded With Nobel Prize for Unexpected Discovery According to Maxim Kazantsev, one of the authors of an article on the invention, organic solid state substances have a number of advantages in comparison with crystal silicon, usually used in electronic devices, including lightness, flexibility, translucency and cheapness of production. The new substance may allow producing new kinds of electronic devices and gadgets, according to the scientist.

Read more: https://sputniknews.com/science/20161005/1046018680/russia-flexible-display.html

 

[Bahamut]

Russia's Nerekhta-2 Combat Robot to Be Presented in 2016 © Sputnik/ Vladimir Astapkovich

TECH 09:30 03.08.2016(updated 10:45 03.08.2016) Get short URL 23543154 The Russian Nerekhta-2 combat robot's new capabilities will be showcased at a proving ground in late 2016, Deputy Director General for Advanced Research Fund told Sputnik. MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Nerekhta-2 will be equipped with a new type of ammunition and will be capable of tackling enemies larger and stronger than itself, according to Igor Denisov. "We have chosen the Nerekhta platform as the most suitable for making a number of changes, this is a 'lab' for testing the most promising solutions for ground robots supporting combat operations, including in the city. I think we will show the Nerekhta's new capabilities at a proving ground at the end of the year. It will have an air component, there will be additional automation elements," Denisov said. According to the deputy chief, the Nerekhta-2 combat robot will be part of Russia's future soldier equipment. "The invisible part of the Nerekhta — its control system — is important as well. We are considering it as part of the 'future soldier' combat equipment. It is impossible to constantly improve the capabilities of a human being and putting on more armor, that way we will turn him into a walking tank. The fighter needs to have a personal assistant, a weapon carrier," Denisov told Sputnik. Russian military robots will be tested at the sites of the Russia's Industry and Trade Ministry and the Nizhny Tagil's Salk landfill in Sverdlovsk region will be used for testing drones. © PHOTO: PIXABAY 'A Very Dangerous Trend’? Killer Cop Robots Could Change the Game for US Police "We found the [Industry and Trade] Ministry's support for the creation of polygon bases for testing the air, underwater and ground robotic systems. First and foremost, that means the equipment of the Salk landfill in Nizhny Tagil will be used for testing the heavy class drones which weight about a hundred kilograms [220.5 lbt]," Denisov said. According to him, the Industry and Trade Ministry's sites, as well as those belonging to the leading corporations, which are all equipped with all the necessary monitoring and security devices, will be used for the robots tests. "We are also considering two offshore sites for testing underwater robots. This is quite difficult in terms of control, because those robots cannot really be tied by a string <…> Especially not those autonomous robots which will be solving combat tasks," Denisov added. The Fund for Perspective Research was founded in 2013 to strengthen research and production of technology for the Russian military. The Fund is currently working on over 50 projects for which labs have been set up at the leading Russian universities and research institutes.

Read more: https://sputniknews.com/science/20160803/1043885020/russia-combat-robot-nerekhta.html

 

[gadeshi]

Young VKS pilots train close formation flights for the 9-th of May Victory Parade:
Su-24M2, Su-25SM and Mi-24P will participate in Rubezh-2016 military drills:

 

[gadeshi]

Ka-52K Catran in Admiral Kuznetsov AC hangar:

 

[sorcerer]

Russia's First in World Floating Nuclear Power Plant to Cost About $480Mln
The first ever floating nuclear heat and power plant that will work since 2019 will cost up around 480 million dollars.

(Russia) (Sputnik) – The first ever floating nuclear heat and power plant that will work in the north-eastern port of Pevek since 2019 will cost up around 30 billion rubles ($480 million), Sergey Zavyalov, the head of the plant construction administration of the Rosenergoatom Concern, said on Tuesday.


"The cost of the main floating power unit will be about 22 billion rubles. Moreover, according to the summary cost estimate, the costs on onshore facilities will be over 7 billion rubles," Zavyalov said. He pointed out that ice impact and squall winds prompted the company to build powerful onshore facilities. Director-General of the contractor company Zapsibgidrostroy Marat Kharisov said that the onshore facilities would be ready by October 2019. He added that the works would be carried out all year round with up to 250 people employed.


Works on the Akademik Lomonosov floating power unit, which is being built for the Pevek-based plant, started in 2009. The unit is fitted with KLT-40C reactors and has an output of 60 MW. With a service life of up to 40 years, the FPU is designed for operation in Russia's far north and Far East. Rosenergoatom plans to bring Akademik Lomonosov to its final mooring in 2019 before starting Floating Nuclear Power Station trials in the same year.


Read more: https://sputniknews.com/science/20161004/1046001913/russian-nuclear-floating-plant.html

 

[Imaxxx]

Packing a Punch: RussianNational Guard to GetSuper-Light SubmachineGun

10:24 08.10.2016(updated 13:04 08.10.2016)

The PP-2000, a submachine gun that weighs a little more than an ultrabook computer, will soon be put into service by the Russian National Guard, according to the newspaper Rossiyskaya Gazeta.

© SPUTNIK/ GEORGIY ZIMAREV

The Russian newspaper Rossiyskaya Gazeta quoted Alexey Sorokin, head of KBP Instrument Design Bureau, a Tula-based company which specializes in the defense industry, as saying that the Russian National Guard will soon be equipped with PP-2000 super-light submachine guns.


Known for its simple design, the PP-2000 is made with a minimum number of parts, and outstrips all of its European analogues in terms of performance characteristics.

The 1.4-kg (3.09lb) gun is specifically designed as a close-quarters combat weapon, intended for riot police and special operations forces.

The PP-2000's effective firing range stands at about 200 meters and its weight and other specifications are notably on par with those of a modern combat pistol, according to Rossiyskaya Gazeta.

The gun is equipped with a 9-mm pistol armor-piercing bullet cartridge and can be used in buildings and transport vehicles thanks to the bullet's reduced risk of ricocheting.

The PP-2000's developers have specifically noting the gun's accuracy and precision shooting. Alexey Sorokin, for his part, explained that the gun can be fired with one hand and used as a secondary weapon; the gun can also be easily camouflaged under clothing.

One unusual feature of the PP-2000 is its ability to store a spare 44-round magazine at the rear of the gun, where it also functions as a stock, in addition to the main 20-round magazine.

© WIKIPEDIA/ VITALY KUZMIN
PP-2000 submachine gun with Zenit-4TK laser sight and tactical light

Another unusual feature is that the gun's charging handle is located directly behind the front sight and folds out of the way when not in use.

In April 2016, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that the country was replacing the country's internal troops with a National Guard service, and introduced to a corresponding bill to the Duma, the lower house of the Russian legislature.

The Russian National Guard, a new federal executive body, will be engaged in the fight against terrorism and organized crime, deploy during national emergencies and anti-terrorist operations, protect significant government facilities and special cargo, as well as assist the Federal Security Service (FSB) in the protection of the national borders. France followed suit in July, re-creating the country's National Guard in the wake of the Bastille Day terrorist attacks.

https://m.sputniknews.com/russia/20161008/1046129229/russian-national-guard-submachine-gun.html

 

[amoy]

Russia to Harvest Record-Breaking 115 Mln Tonnes of Grain in 2016


"This year we are expecting the best grain harvest in modern Russian history, about 115 million tonnes. Our country has taken a leading position in the world in the export of wheat… In short, the Russian agriculture is on the rise, and the state will continue to provide a broad support for the industry, to those who want to work on the land and succeed," Putin said.

In 2015-2016, Russia exported record-breaking 33,893 million tonnes of grain, including 24,604 tonnes of wheat, surpassing the United States and Canada. Grain exports for 2016-2017 may rise further to 40 million tonnes, according to the Russian Agriculture Ministry.

With Europe's upcoming harvest forecasts slashed, Russia is likely to become the top world exporter of wheat for the first time in 2017.

https://m.sputniknews.com/russia/20161009/1046148549/russia-grain-record-putin.html

 

[Bahamut]

ORTH WEST | TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATION
Russian researchers develop new multiple sclerosis solution

7 Oct '16
Collaborative researchers at the Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, St. Petersburg Municipal Multiple Sclerosis Center #31, and two private companies in St. Pete, Pharmasintez and Xenetic, have developed a new form of vaccine to treat multiple sclerosis, one of the deadliest neurodegenerative diseases of autoimmune nature. Results of the effort have been described in an article published in English-languageNeurotherapeutics.

The key component of the new vaccine candidate is said to be liposomes that act like lipid bubble-like transporters containing fragments of myelin, a protein that structurally insulates nerve fibers. In an experiment, three protein fragments were selected. One revealed a certain therapeutic effect at the initial stages of the disease, while the other two can keep pathology at bay in a remission period. Lab research led the scientists to the conclusion that combinatory introduction of all the three fragments inside liposomes produces the best possible effect.

The vaccine candidates were tested in a series of clinical trials on healthy volunteers and multiple sclerosis patients in five sizable national centers in Russia. It is now known that the solution offers a good level of drug tolerance, and the likelihood of complications is fairly low.

With the project now past preclinical trials and two phases of clinical ones, the developers are hoping for success in phase 3, which would enable widespread use of the vaccine in multiple sclerosis therapy. There are more than 200,000 multiple sclerosis patients aged 15 through 25 in Russia.

 

[Bahamut]

Russian Scientists Develop Thought-Controlled Robotic Interface

TECH 14:39 08.10.2016 (updated 20:38 08.10.2016) Get short URL 41770200 Russian software company Neurobotics is engaged in creating technology that would enable a person to use his or her mind to control computers and computer-assisted technologies including robotic prosthetics. Speaking to LifeNews from the sidelines of Cybathlon, an assistive technology competition that has been dubbed 'the World's First Bionic Olympics', Neurobotics CEO Vladimir Konishev discussed the bright future of his company's unique technology. Experimenting for several years in the creation of a brain-computer interface, Neurobotics has now taken the next step, and is developing and improving its a 'neuro-headset', a device that can read signals from the brain's cortex and transmit them to a computer to operate various devices. The prospective uses for the technology are endless, and include computer-assisted prosthetics. It's only logical, therefore, that Neurobotics is participating in Cybathlon, a competition of athletes with physical disabilities showing off cutting-edge assistive devices, which kicked off in Zurich on Saturday. © REUTERS/ TT NEWS AGENCY/ANDERS WIKLUND 'I Basically Stumbled on This': Trio of Physicists Awarded With Nobel Prize for Unexpected Discovery Interviewed by LifeNews on the sidelines of the event, Vladimir Konishev shared some the technical details of the Neurobotics neuro-headset, and discussed its present development state. "The neuro-headset consists of a neoprene cap-helmet with embedded electrodes," the engineer explained. "The rear has a bio-amplifier for transmitting data via Bluetooth to the computer. Right now the main challenge lies in the fact that such headsets use electrodes that use electrically conductive gel. That is, someone must apply the gel to the user, meaning an assistant is required." Accordingly, "the next step for us is creating a neuro-headset with dry electrodes." Konishev suggested that his company is looking at doing so by next year. "After the appearance of such a device, the brain-computer interface can be used by large numbers of people without any outside help. Thus, the new models will be easier to use and will be much more aesthetically pleasing." The engineer stressed that his company's primary task was to develop a neuro-headset "that could be used not only in a laboratory, but also in everyday life. This goal was given to us in the framework of the project for the Foundation for Advanced Studies," a state fund that promotes innovative technologies. © PHOTO: PIXABAY 125 Years - the Final Frontier of Human Existence "We worked hard to ensure that the neuro-headset was wireless, and has a small number of channels, so that a person could simultaneously move about and manage the robotic device, whether it be a quadrocopter or wheeled robot." As for the use of the technology to assist people with physical disabilities – including prosthetics, Konishev explained that this is possible after some training, enabling the user to give the necessary mental commands. "These commands are fairly easy to trigger…Training takes about 30-60 minutes, during which most people can master three basic commands. To manage a smart home or play computer games this is enough. But to control quadrocopters, for example, requires four commands" (and thus takes a little longer). The uses of the technology for improving the lives of people with impaired motor function are tremendous, the engineer emphasized. "For example, people that are completely paralyzed can control smart home infrastructure. In one of our videos we demonstrate a person mentally bending and unbending the exoskeleton around his wrist – that is, factually moving his hand just like a healthy person." The technology can also allow users "to remotely control home appliances – to turn on the TV or air conditioning. Here the system is rather simple – mentally switching on the outlet to which the appliance is connected. This is not science fiction – but already a reality." And there are other uses too, Konishev added, from communication by mentally typing text, to allowing someone who is completely paralyzed to control a wheelchair using his or her neuro-headset. Neurobotics is also looking at the creation of a hybrid neuro-interface, with several technologies complementing one another. For example, Konishev noted that a system using eye-tracking can complement the brain signal-based neuro-headset to help someone with limited motor function to move about and carry out a variety of tasks. A combination of technologies would simplify the brain processes required to accomplish tasks. © PHOTO: PIXABAY Paranoia or Premonition: Tech Billionaires Want to Save Humanity From the Matrix In addition to helping people with disabilities, the company is also developing a number of commercial niches –including neuro-piloting lessons at schools, a pilot program at about ten institutions across Russia providing children the opportunity to pilot quadrocopters using their minds. "We can say that this is a new direction in education and business…For students it seems like telekinesis – something new and different. These lessons develop an interest in robotics and neuro-control, and increase their interest in the hard sciences – physics, cybernetics, neurophysiology. Such motivations can affect their career choices, and thus bring new young professionals to our area." In addition, the company is already working on giving third party software developers a hand in developing programs and games using neuro-headset, based on the successful experience of companies like NeuroSky. Emphasizing that his company is grateful for state support for its projects, Konishev admitted that there is definitely still room for improvement, particularly as far as paperwork and bureaucracy are concerned. The engineer stressed that on the whole, Russian engineers' work in the neuro-technology sector doesn't lag behind that of leading countries, and in some areas is even at the forefront. "Cybathlon allows us to compare our neuro-interfaces with the developments of other countries. Our obvious advantage is the simplicity of our system. After all, the simpler the technology, the safer it is." Konishev noted that "if we use this chance and make our technology compatible with standing frames, exoskeletons and other assistive equipment, we can help a lot of people to live a fuller life. After all, Russian products are much less expensive, and more available. Therefore, we also have good potential for exporting our products." Right now, Neurobotics' neuro-headset costs 80,000 rubles (about $1,285). The company is working to get the price down to 25,000 rubles (about $400), thus making the technology more accessible to mainstream users. Ultimately, Konishev believes that neuro-interface technology will reach the mass market in five years' time – given two years for development and another two for testing, clinical trials and their registration as medical devices. ...

Read more:https://sputniknews.com/science/20161008/1046133330/russian-scientists-neurobotics-interview.html

 

[Bahamut]

Russian Scientists Create Computer Program Which Can Unmask Psychopaths

TECH 21:53 07.10.2016 (updated 22:12 07.10.2016) Get short URL 4921122 Scientists at Russia's Tomsk University have created a computer program which works like the human brain to differentiate people who are prone to various kinds of criminal behavior. © PHOTO: PIXABAY Man Machine: Russian Scientists Create a Fragment of Electronic 'Brain' Scientists at Russia's Tomsk University have created a computer program which enables them to predict individuals' criminal behavior, the university announced in a press release. The researchers surveyed 180 prisoners who had been jailed for six different offenses, including murder, assault, theft and drug dealing. They trained two types of artificial neural network (ANN) to look and test for psychological characteristics which were distinctive to each category of prisoner. An ANN is a paradigm for information processing inspired by biological neural networks such as the brain. The scientists discovered that people convicted of theft had dominant traits like authoritarianism, dependence and altruism, and those convicted of serious assault were particularly suspicious. "We were interested in the problem of predicting behavior. Behavior is determined above all by somebody's personality, that is, temperament, character and psychological type," explained project leader, Associate Professor at the Faculty of Applied Mathematics and Cybernetics Michael Golovchiner. © PHOTO: AFP/MANDEL NGAN, AFP/MIKE NELSON, REUTERS/JOE SKIPPER Trump, Clinton, Hussein and Jesus: Historical Figures Rated in Psychopath Test "The question of whether there is a set of characteristics that distinguish criminals convicted of various crimes is a task well-suited to ANN, because this is an issue of classification," he said. "The training and testing revealed two characteristic factors: 'domination-submission,' and 'friendliness-hostility,' and the error rate of classification was about 20 percent, indicating a relatively high level of accuracy." The scientists have published the results of their study in the September issue of the university's Journal of Control and Computer Science. Golovchiner said that the method can be used more widely, using more data, to create an ANN that searches for any kind of psychological characteristic that can predict behavior. The finding could prove useful for any organization seeking to distinguish individual psychological traits, such as prospective employers who want to devise a set of interview questions that really get to know their candidates. ...

Read more:https://sputniknews.com/science/20161007/1046119098/russian-scientists-psychopaths.html

 

[Bahamut]

Russian Physicists Invent New Nanoparticles for Futuristic Light-Based Computing

TECH 16:26 22.08.2016 (updated 16:30 22.08.2016) Get short URL 102321251 Russian scientists have discovered a new kind of silicon nanoparticle which may pave the way for a revolution in computer chip technology. © SPUTNIK/ YURI STRELETC Russian Scientist and Team Create Microchip to Replace Laser Scientists from the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (MIPT) and ITMO University have created new silicon nanoparticles which can be used to quicken information processing, RIA Novosti reported on Monday. "Today's optical fibers are able to transfer information at record speeds of hundreds of gigabytes per second. However, silicon electronics do not allow such fast information processing. The creation of a nonlinear optical antenna will allow us to solve this problem, and pave the way for ultrafast processing of optical information," said Denis Baranov of MIPT, one of the authors of a paper published in the ACS Photonics journal. The scientists used conventional silicon to create a nanocrystalline silicon nanoparticle, configured to act on beams of light of a certain wavelength, intensity and duration. In their experiments, the electronic plasma inside the nanoparticles showed an ultrafast reaction to short and intense pulses of light. The scientists say the particles might be used as to form optical nano-antenna for information processing in future generations of fiber-optic communication lines and computer chips. "Our work lays the foundation for developing ultracompact and ultrafast all-optical signal processing devices," the scientists wrote in their paper. © PHOTO: MIPT PRESS SEVICE Pump–probe experiments with resonant silicon nanoparticles and report on dense optical plasma generation near the magnetic dipole resonance with an ultrafast (about 2.5 ps) relaxation rate While optical fibers, using light particles, send data over the internet at super-fast speeds, when the data reaches our computers it slows down to be converted to electrons. The silicon-based microprocessor chips used in today's computers use electrical circuits to communicate with one another and transfer information. © PHOTO: JEONGMIN HONG, JEFFREY BOKOR Move Over, Moore's Law: New Magnetic Chips Offer Computer Processing With One Million Times Less Energy Moore's Law, first described in 1965, holds that computer processor speeds will double every two years as the number of transistors on a microprocessor doubles. However, in recent years advances have become limited by the amount of electricity needed to power the ever-increasing number of transistors which transfer data, leading scientists to seek alternatives such as light-based or quantum computing. ...

Read more:https://sputniknews.com/science/20160822/1044519346/russian-physicists-computer-chip.html

 

[gadeshi]

Another one Ka-52K Katran inside Admiral Kuznetsov's hangar:

 

[gadeshi]

More military videos from Zvezda Channel:

 

[gadeshi]

And more: ===================>

 

[gadeshi]

And more: ====================>

 

[gadeshi]

And moooorreeee: ==========>

 

[gadeshi]

And space launches as well:

 

[gadeshi]

A Zvezda movie about SPRN (Ballistic Missiles Attack Warning System):

 

[gadeshi]

A Zvezda movie about GAZ Tiger Army jeep family: