War is an area that divides many people in the world today. Most people don’t like the idea of war, but that doesn’t mean that it’s going to stop anytime soon. While many debate whether war is necessary, the military contractors and the military itself continue developing new technologies that change the way battles take place. Here are five new technologies that have the potential to revolutionize warfare in the future.
cc licensed flickr photo shared by gluemoon
Liquid Body Armor
One of the more interesting technologies that has emerged in recent years is liquid body armor. With liquid body armor, the material is very lightweight and flexible initially. It is filled with a liquid that has metallic particles floating in it. When the material is pierced by a bullet or another sharp object, the liquid hardens into a metallic surface. This keeps the bullet or shrapnel from entering into the armor. This technology can make it easier for soldiers to maneuver while at the same time providing great protection from bullets.
Exoskeletons
Another technology that has the potential to change the way we do battle is the exoskeleton. If you have ever seen the movie “Iron Man” you know the basic idea behind this type of technology. An exoskeleton is a device that goes around the outside of the soldier like a suit. It has the capability of enhancing the soldier’s strength and providing him with the ability to do more than he could on his own. These exoskeletons have already been developed and demonstrated. They make it possible for a soldier to run faster and lift hundreds of pounds at once.
Invisibility Cloak
The invisibility cloak is another technology that could completely change warfare. Scientists have publicly shown that they can bend light around very small particles. They claim that they don’t have the ability to bend light around big objects yet, but some say that the military already has this technology. Thanks to a YouTube video released, some believe that the military is already using this type of technology in battle today. Regardless of whether they are using it now or not, it appears that it is only a matter of time until soldiers can be invisible.
Holograms
Holograms have been used in some capacities for many years. The entertainment industry has utilize holograms to amaze people by projecting different things into the air. A recent example of this technology was on display at the Coachella festival when Tupac performed on stage even though he’s been dead for many years. If the entertainment industry has this type of technology, the military probably already has something vastly superior to this. Holograms could be used in many different ways on the battle field. The military could beam holograms of soldiers, tanks and other devices as decoys or to intimidate other armies.
Tracers and TrackersThe military has also spent a lot of money in recent years developing tracing and tracking technology. For example, they have tracking devices that are so small that they cannot be seen by the naked eye. These devices can be placed onto your skin or your clothing and you would never know it. Then the items can be seen with special might vision goggles or tracks via satellite.
They also have tracking technology that makes it possible to track someone by smell. A special device is used to mark a target with a smell. The smell can last for days regardless of what someone tries to do to get rid of it. Then the technology can track the smell over long distances. This makes it easier to keep up with the targets that the military deems worthy of tracking.
Frank Foster is a military historian and guest author at Online Military Education, a site with information and guides to help prospective students find schools to get a military education online.