The R&D slowdown and how to return to a society of explorers
The discussion about whether or not progress in science and technology is slowing down could greatly benefit from a thorough reading of Michael Polanyi’s 1966 […]
Technology
How the DOD failed to follow up on hypersonics decades ago
The key technology for hypersonic air-breathing propulsion at higher flight Mach numbers is the supersonic combustion ramjet (scramjet). In this device, injection of hydrogen fuel […]
More on how gov’t can best support AI research
Here is an excerpt from my recent War on the Rocks article, responding the call for ideas from the National Security Commission on Artificial Intelligence […]
The SDA’s positioning for a new space architecture
The 2018 National Defense Strategy gives out a set of goals and they all say “we want you to modernize in an agile manner with […]
CRS report on artificial intelligence, China, and acquisition
The following is from an excellent CRS report, “National Security and Artificial Intelligence.” I’ll forego the indentation. Note that more recent Bloomberg estimates put the […]
Software requires a faster funding process
The DOD’s process for obtaining funding for new acquisition programs typically takes multiple years. To address a DOD capability shortfall, the shortfall must be linked […]
Modular architecture, incremental decisions, and software acquisition
Jeff Boleng [USD(A&S) Special Assistant for Software]: Should we separate our hardware procurement and our software procurement, and maybe even look to different vendors to […]
What, if anything, is new about DevSecOps?
So what is DevSecOps? You have to start by contrasting it to traditional software development process known as “waterfall,” in which work flows in a clear linear […]
AI exposes challenges to cost estimation
Many people have written about how artificial intelligence can improve the business of cost estimating. However, those papers tend to focus on costing out industrial […]
John Nash on the virtues of parallel control
The basic idea is simple. Instead of having a single control unit sequencing the operations of the machine in series (except for certain subsidiary operations […]
Unified cybersecurity standards, allowable costs, and whether it makes a difference
“We have a great deal of standards for cybersecurity. What we are lacking is a unified standard,” Arrington said June 12 during a webinar sponsored […]
Are better requirements the answer to acquisition?
Here are some excellent insights from the Army Materiel Acquisition Review Committee’s 1974 report. Might sound like a lot of the arguments going on today […]
What does the V-280 show after 40 years of tiltrotor development?
I just watched a YouTube video of the Bell V-280 tiltrotor conducting some kind of low speed agility demonstration… The aircraft can rock back and […]
Disastrously risk-averse government funded R&D
U.S. universities have attracted great young scientists and engineers from all over the world, many of whom choose to remain in the country, strengthening our […]
The Air Force’s eternal reluctance for attack aircraft
But while the Air Force considers whether it needs a light-attack capability, SOCOM Commander Gen. Richard Clarke said a light-attack platform is essential for its […]