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Tag Archive for Science Fiction

Not Enough

April 2, 2015 future, Videogames Comments Off on Not Enough

 

http://www.space.com/12572-nasa-innovative-space-technology-funding.html

On the one hand, this is pretty awesome.  NASA is putting research money into some pretty innovative (and unusual solutions).  On the other hand, it’s only $100k per grant.  That’s Angel level investment, but for working with engineers, hardware and proof of concepts, it seems a little small.

BUT, what it does do (as a small startup) is give you a kind of legitimacy that you can then take to other, larger investors.  You can inform them that NASA is one of your backers, which then means you’ve got a market for your product.  It’s got a home if you can make it work like you think it will.  Having a market in-hand when you go to speak with investors and Angels makes a huge difference, whether you are building mobile apps or inventing a way to finally clear some of our debris from space.

Equal and Opposite Reaction

March 31, 2015 future, Writing Comments Off on Equal and Opposite Reaction

http://www.cnn.com/2014/12/11/tech/innovation/navy-laser-weapon/index.html

A few months ago, over on G+, Daniel Suarez had posted a link regarding the rise of the drone delivery service and the ever growing presence that remotely controlled drones are beginning to have, both the civilian and military kind.

It makes perfect sense that the Navy would already have a “drone killer” of their own in development, and apparently this one is stable enough to be properly deployed for duty (as opposed to still being concept video).

As a laser-based defense (one where the laser is your primary weapon, rather than being used for disorientation or object tracking) this is probably the most sensible use.  Where drones are concerned, you don’t have to worry about casualties (unless you shoot the drone down into a schoolyard) and your range is going to be limited by a combination of power and atmospheric interference, rather than physics.

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