Emerging Technology – April 2023


SEEING BEHIND CLOSED DOORS an unprecedent invasion of privacy?
With only a smartphone and some computations researchers can use WiFi signals to track individuals in their homes.
Using Wi-Fi to “see” behind closed doors is easier than anyone thought | MIT Technology Review

PROPANE LEVEL MONITORING FOR REMOTE PUBLIC SAFETY RADIO SITES
Many remote radio sites operate on Propane or Diesel fuel. But public safety sites may not be monitored remotely for fuel levels available to keep a radio site operational which is critical for public safety sites. The following are some devices which monitor fuel levels of Propane and Diesel. Mopeka makes some which use strong magnet to attach to the bottom of tank with 20lbs to 100 gallons for fuel tank level monitoring remotely via Bluetooth connection, with a 2-3 year battery life, and some can support a single tank others dual tank configuration for on-site emergency fuel backup storage. Radio signal is then can be sent wirelessly to your cellphone.
The Mopeka Pro Check | MopekaIOT
generac-b1526ebac162ad594db7a658dec9efa5.pdf (electricgeneratorsdirect.com)

MEDICAL RESPONSE FOR EMTs RESPONDING TO WAR AND DISASTERS
Thornhill Medical is a portable device provides oxygen concentrator to wounded in Ukraine war and U.S Marines. It is intended to be used in transport and emergency settings. It also provides patient monitoring and alarms. It also has a suction pump to remove flood tissue (including bone) gases and body fluids or infectious materials from wounds or from a patient’s airway or respirator support system. This is basically a field hospital device for EMT which have been trained on its use.
Intended Use – Thornhill Medical USA

GALILEO GPS SATELLITE
Galileo satellite system now providing high accuracy sub meter accuracy at 20cm per the European Union Space Program. Sub meter accuracy can be use in finding gas pipe cut offs which were covered up and hidden electrical lines if so mapped. But such detail information collection could be an issue during a war.
ESA – New Galileo service set to deliver 20 cm accuracy

STOPING A SPEEDING BULLET WITH PROTEIN BASED MATERIAL TALIN
New technology can stop object traveling at speeds of up to 1.5km/s. In space particles can traveling travel at speeds of 1Km/s which damage space craft. This technology can be useful in protection from bullets travel at speeds of 0.4- 1km/s.
Team creates protein-based material that can stop supersonic impacts (phys.org)

EMERGENCY SOS VIA SATELLITE COMMUNICATIONS
In Nov 2022 Apple and Globalstar partnership started the Emergency SOS via Satellite service.
iPhone 14 will try to route 911 calls to our provider and to other networks, if not available you can tap Emergency Text via Satellite to send and emergency text message via satellite to 911. China Huawei company is working on a system also which Homeland security may have an issue with?
Use Emergency SOS via satellite on your iPhone 14 – Apple Support

AUTOMOTIVE SECURITY & KILL SWITCH TO BE ADDED TO NEW VEHICLES IN 2026
Deep within the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act that was signed into law by President Joe Biden is a passage that requires automakers to begin including a “vehicle kill switch” within the operating software of new cars. How it relates to infrastructure, investment, or jobs is a good question. But could this be used for other purposes other than intended? Could a hacker or foreign enemy gain access and take control over our vehicles? Automotive people have already hacked vehicle smog systems, why not the Kill Switches. With this being the case why can’t enemies hack into our vehicles to shut down our transportation system. Who is responsible for any kidnaping, death or an injury resulting from the illegal activation of the system?
Biden Infrastructure Bill Mandates Vehicle Kill Switches By 2026 (musclecarsandtrucks.com)
Automotive Cybersecurity Community of Interest (COI) Webinar | CSRC (nist.gov)

SMOKE FIRE AND RF SIGNALS
They say where there is smoke there is fire. But you can also say where there is smoke there is also RF attenuation of radio waves. There’s been studies conducted, but more is needed as attenuation varies depending on density of the smoke and which way the wind is blowing in a fire. They say the loss is between 0.03 to 0.05db/meter at 150MHz, but information did not address the density of the smoke or address the type of smoke. Should this be the case then attenuation levels at 0.5Km or 0.31 miles could be as much as -25db, which is a significant RF signal loss not normally accounted for in a study. IEEE December 2022 Antennas and Propagation Magazine had an interesting article Level Variability of Radio Signals Propagating through Fire.

Stanford University Battery Breakthrough for next generation of Lithium Batteries.
Scientists at Stanford University and SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory claim to have resolved this mystery about short circuiting cells. Cause is mechanical stress during recharging and nanoscopic fissures in materials.
Stanford Breakthrough Paves Way Next-Generation Lithium Metal Batteries That Charge Very Quickly (scitechdaily.com)

The 17th century Dodo Bird and Woolly Mammoth to live again?
The Billion-dollar Colossal Biosciences startup company proposes to bring back the dodo bird and Woolly Mammoth. This is the latest attempt to revive extinct animal species. The dodo bird has been extinct since the 17century. Scientists can’t recreate life from scratch, so they will have to figure out a way to put the dodo-specific genes into the embryo of a living animal. Solving the Colossal Problem of Extinction | Colossal

Black Silicon blacker than Black a Solar Cells for improved efficiency.
https://microdevices.jpl.nasa.gov/capabilities/advanced-microfabrication-technologies/black-silicon/

China may put export restrictions on Black Silicon including silicon casting equipment.
https://www.pv-magazine-australia.com/2023/02/01/china-mulling-restrictions-on-polysilicon-wafer-exports/

Raytheon receives $207 million from the Army to counter and defend against Unman Arial System attacks.
System to is to protect ground troops form UAS and swarms at high altitudes and long ranges using the Ku 720 mobile sensing radar for 360 degree detection.

Dozens stranded in Snow in the Tundra in Rock Springs Wyoming
During snowstorm travelers were directed on a detour by their GPS navigation systems and sent down an unmaintained county road in a blizzard per Sweetwater County Sheriff when highway 80 was closed due to the winter conditions. Similar incidents were reported in other counties which resulted in discussions between transportation agency and companies developing navigation software. This even is happening in California.
GPS-led vehicles avoid Wyoming highway closures, get stuck in Colorado backcountry – CBS Colorado (cbsnews.com)
Snow Closed the Highways. GPS Mapped a Harrowing Detour in the Sierra Nevada. – The New York Times (nytimes.com)

Photocatalytic Water Splitting achieved 9.2% efficiency which is 10X more efficient than artificial photosynthesis
Photocatalytic water splitting with 9.2% solar-to-hydrogen efficiency – pv magazine USA (pv-magazine-usa.com)

NIST researchers developed a new way of measuring gas flow going into and out of tanks by determining gas temperature and using sound to measure flow to determine flow and to detect gas leaks.
Sounding Out a New Way to Measure Gas Flow | NIST

NEWS FROM DHS
DHS science and technology web page available News | Homeland Security (dhs.gov) the following are some of the latest articles:

DHS Tech Speak Minisodes for public safety
Tech Speak Minisodes | Homeland Security (dhs.gov) includes Gun Shot detection technology.

NEXTGEN TV
New effort to arm agencies with a digital alerting system which taps into NEXTGEN TV for First responders and public notifications.
Feature Article: Channeling NEXTGEN TV so Responders Can Answer the Call | Homeland Security (dhs.gov)

FOOD and AGRICULTURE SECURITY
Addressing threats affecting food and agriculture which can disrupt food supply chain.
It’s Time to Talk about Food and Agriculture Security | Homeland Security (dhs.gov)

REMOTE TRAVELER VERIFICATION TECHNOLOGY
Addressing Travelers, cargo, baggage crowd control interviews documentation and traveler support.
It’s Time to Talk about Food and Agriculture Security | Homeland Security (dhs.gov)

ENSURING NEXT GENERATION 911 INTEROPERABILITY
Feature Article: Ensuring Next Generation 911 Interoperability | Homeland Security (dhs.gov)

BREAKTHROUGH ALERT MESSAGING FOR A MOBILE PUBLIC
Provides ability to warn travelers of a Wildfire warning.
Feature Article: Breakthrough Alert Messaging for a Mobile Public | Homeland Security (dhs.gov)