Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
garded information superiority as a key enabler of victory. However, the ongo-
ing “information revolution” is creating not only a quantitative, but a qualitative
change in the information environment that by 2020 will result in profound
changes in the conduct of military operations. In fact, advances in information
capabilities are proceeding so rapidly that there is a risk of outstripping our
ability to capture ideas, formulate operational concepts, and develop the capac-
ity to assess results. While the goal of achieving information superiority will
not change, the nature, scope, and “rules” of the quest are changing radically.
1
From the analysis in Chapter 3 it is apparent that the current rapid increase in
the ability to handle information will continue at least for the next decade and
beyond. The doubling of computing power every 18 months and the even more
rapid increase in information transmission rate and storage capacity will lead to
an increase of at least 128
in the amount of information that can be gathered and
processed. Today's smart weapons will seem “mentally challenged” 10 years
from now.
The trend in information density is important because so many information
technologies are foreseen to have a significant impact on future military opera-
tions. Examples include these:
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•
Autonomous and adaptive algorithms for resource scheduling, mission
planning, and mission execution
•
Artificial/virtual intelligence (AI/VI), self-awareness, intuitiveness, au-
tomated recognition
•
Human-machine interfaces and robotics
•
Heterogeneous databases, software, integration, modeling and process-
ing techniques
•
Advanced tools and algorithms for modeling and simulation (M&S)
•
Satellite onboard data processing and storage
•
Nonvolatile random access memory
•
Mass storage memory (including optical storage technologies)
•
Radiation hardening and shielding of components
•
Plug-and-play hardware and software technologies
Beyond this relatively near-term trend, the committee anticipates that emerg-
ing nanotechnologies will enable even more revolutionary long-term changes in
how we obtain and use information. Exploiting these advances will be an impor-
tant and challenging task for the Air Force.
Miniaturization
The reduction in size of systems from computers to cell phones is a continu-
ing evolution for electronic systems. The significance of this miniaturization goes
well beyond just the smaller size and reduced weight. Batch fabrication, the
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