Combat Field Research Articles

Recent advancements in flapping mechanism and wing design of micro aerial vehicles

Recent studies on understanding of natural flyers have encouraged researchers in development of micro aerial vehicles mimicking birds and insects such as hummingbirds, dragonflies, bats and many more. The vehicles find their applications in reconnaissance and situational awareness in combat field, search and rescue operations, biological and nuclear compromised sites and broadcasting and sports. The focus of this review is to assess recent progress in sub systems of these vehicles including drive mechanisms, actuation mechanisms and wing designs that define the aerodynamics, propulsion, stability, and control of the vehicles. Limited research has been carried out on drive mechanisms capable of producing figure-of-eight wingtip motion contrary to conventional four and five-bar linkage mechanisms along with modified planar and spherical attachments. Motor and piezoelectric actuation mechanisms are being used extensively in these vehicles due to lightweight and power efficiency as compared to non-conventional power sources. Wing shape and rigidity plays a key role in determining the required lift and thrust along with frequency limitations and material constraints. A relatively new field of structural and kinematic optimization for the development of a lightweight flapping vehicle with high endurance capability is also a part of this review. This review has pointed out the research gaps including 3-DoF piezoelectric kinematics, under-actuated mechanisms, structural contact analysis, limited static and dynamic structural analysis, limited fatigue analysis and development of optimization techniques.

Gaining insights on immune responses to the novel coronavirus, COVID-19 and therapeutic challenges

SARS-CoV-2 is a new member of coronaviruses that its sudden spreading put the health care system of most countries in a tremendous shock. For controlling of the new infection, COVID-19, many efforts have been done and are ongoing to defeat this virus in the combat field. In this review, we focused on how the immune system behaves toward the virus and the relative possible consequences during their interactions. Then the therapeutic steps and potential vaccine candidates have been described in a hope to provide a better prospective of effective treatment and preventive strategies to the novel SARS-CoV in near future.

МЕСТО И РОЛЬ СССР ПО РАЗРЕШЕНИЮ ВОЕННО-ПОЛИТИЧЕСКОГО КОНФЛИКТА В ИСПАНИИ (1936–1939)

Nowadays, there is a strong need for the multidimensional socio-political comprehension of the Russia’s modern stage development. This stage allows us making a research on the reforms’ results in the context of the state institutions. The process of the certain results and meaning rethinking of these changes both on the post-soviet space en bloc and in Russia in particular. This article in this sense is aimed at the investigation of the state’s role and place in the historical dimension. The permanent interest to the state’s role and place as well as the variety of its interactions with other countries is caused in the modern world by the modern states’ crisis. The article in this case is very topical and does cover the military political conflict in Spain and the participation of the USSR in it throughout 1936–1939. The main reason of the republicans’ defeat, according to the authors’ opinion, was the change in the USSR’s foreign policy line and as a result the cease of the economic and military help to the republicans government, the remoteness of the civil war combat fields in Spain and also the all-round military and economic help of the fascist coalition which did take part in the direct intervention on the Iberian peninsula. Alongside with this during the period since august 1939 until march 1939 USSR by lending the military and economic help to Spain did clearly demonstrate its priorities which were the fight against the international fascism and trotskyism, militarism and the unhidden aggression against the republic. The military counselors under the conditions of the modern state war did gain the experience in the planning and participation in the big-scale strategic operations. Lastly, on the threshold of the World War ΙΙ the civil war in Spain is considered to be the largest military political conflict of the mid-30s in the 20th century. The subjects of this conflict was from one side the Spanish republic and from the other one the united forces of the coupists and their allies whereas the object of the conflict was all the absoluteness of the political power.

Cytotoxicity and hemostatic activity of chitosan/carrageenan composite wound healing dressing for traumatic hemorrhage

Hemorrhage remains a big threat to trauma patients, especially in combat fields. Therefore, we formulated a biocompatible and biopolymer based chitosan/carrageenan composite dressing. This dressing was fabricated using freeze-drying that will serve as a promising material to promote hemostasis and tissue growth required during hemorrhage. The efficacy of dressing was evaluated for its physiochemical analysis, surface morphology, and biodegradability. Further, human dermal fibroblast cells were seeded on dressing and demonstrated non-toxic effects on the cells by showing enhanced cell attachment and proliferation. In vitro hemostatic properties of the dressing were analyzed by human Thrombin-Antithrombin assay. The dressing formed showed steady blood coagulation implying red blood cells and platelet adhesion that helped in thrombin formation, which is responsible for enhancing wound healing. Thus, it is concluded that the composite dressing can be a potent combination to accelerate hemostatic activity against hemorrhage and promote tissue growth for effective wound healing.

Medicine in Extreme Environments: A New Medical Student Elective Class for Wilderness, Aerospace, Hyperbaric, Exercise, and Combat Medicine

We developed an elective course titled Medicine in Extreme Environments (MEE) at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center for first- and second-year medical students. This course covered physiology, research, clinical practice, and career guidance regarding the fields of wilderness, space, hyperbaric, combat, and exercise medicine. The primary aim was to generate interest in and awareness of these seldom covered fields of medicine by exposing medical students to these disciplines during their preclinical years. A postcourse questionnaire was implemented to investigate whether the MEE course increased awareness of, interest in, and knowledge in the fields of medicine included in the curriculum. Through 2 iterations of the class, a total of 67 students enrolled in the course, and 38 students completed the questionnaire. After course completion, 95% felt they better understood the work and lifestyle of the fields covered, 100% learned more about concepts of each field, and 74% agreed that the elective influenced the direction of their future careers to include some part of the fields emphasized. Although only a limited number of students enrolled in this course, these initial findings suggest that the MEE curriculum may have some utility in promoting awareness of and interest in these medical disciplines among students who attend the course. With continued student and faculty support, this course will likely be continued annually at our institution. We believe that certain aspects of this course may be useful in helping develop similar courses at other medical schools.

A Novel Real-Time Penetration Path Planning Algorithm for Stealth UAV in 3D Complex Dynamic Environment

In recent years, stealth aircraft penetration path planning has been a significant research subject in the field of low altitude combat. However, previous works have mainly concentrated on the path planning for stealth unmanned aerial vehicle(UAV) in 2D static environment. In contrast, this paper addresses a novel real-time path planning algorithm for stealth UAV to realize the rapid penetration, which aims to devise a route penetration strategy based on the improved A-Star algorithm to address the problems of replanning for stealth UAV in 3D complex dynamic environment. The proposed method introduces the kinematic model of stealth UAV and detection performance of netted radar in the process of low altitude penetration. Additionally, POP-UP threats are adopted into three different threat scenarios, which is closer to the real combat environment. Moreover, further combined with the prediction technique and route planning algorithm, the multi-step search strategy is developed for stealth UAV to deal with POP-UP threats and complete the replanning of the route in different scenarios. Furthermore, the attitude angle information is integrated into the improved A-Star algorithm, which reflects the characteristics of the dynamic radar cross section(RCS) and conforms to the actual flight requirements for the stealth UAV. Finally, the improved A-Star algorithm, the sparse A-Star search (SAS), and the dynamic A-Star algorithm(D-Star) are respectively adopted to address the problem of penetration route planning for stealth UAV in three different threat scenarios. Numerical simulations are performed to illustrate that the proposed approach can achieve rapid penetration route planning for stealth UAV in a dynamic threat scenario, and verify the validity of the improved A-Star algorithm which is compared to the other two algorithms

Long-term placement of continuous popliteal nerve block catheter for management of a wounded patient in a combat field environment: a case report.

Continuous peripheral nerve block is a relevant part of multimodal treatment of postoperative pain. In this context the continuous popliteal nerve block is described as an option for postoperative pain management for surgical procedures on the leg, and particularly on the ankle and foot. We applied continuous popliteal nerve block for different types of anesthesia and postoperative pain management via the same catheter. No clear evidence of this specific use has been described in the literature. A 38 year-old patient wounded in combat with a displaced fracture of left tibia and extensive loss of substance needed orthopedic surgeries as well as several reconstructive procedures. A continuous popliteal nerve block was applied via ultrasound-guided catheter for anesthesia at different times, and postoperative pain control for all surgical procedures. The continuous popliteal nerve block and its long-term positioning, of non-common evidence in literature, was utilized to treat a poly-traumatized patient, thereby avoiding repeated general anesthesia and opioid use and their adverse effects. This technique, within a complicated combat field environment, was demonstrated to be clinically effective with high patient satisfaction.

An Ordnance Reliability and Life Model for the Estimation of the Component Kits in Preventive Replacement in Terms of Production and Operating Costs

This paper presents an outline of a method of optimising the service life of aircraft guns at the stage of design engineering and retrofitting. The essence of this method is a selection of service lives and quantities of preventively replaced components and the service parts of non-reconditionable components resulting in an overall reduction of gun production and operating costs (including the costs of replacement parts stocks) with an improvement of the service life of the whole gun assembly. The method assumes that the service lives to be selected must meet a criterion of predefined reliability, maximum service availability when installed aboard a combat platform (i.e. an aircraft) and the minimum time to re-use. It is pointed out that in the design engineering of preventive component replacement and the assessment of the gun selection, a criterion of total gun cost reduction shall apply; the total gun cost is construed as the cost of production/purchase and maintenance applicable to the operating mode (with the costs and time to provide replacement parts). The total gun cost should be decisive in the definition of service lives and the number of components in preventive replacement. To analyse and select the service life and the MTBR (Mean Time Between Replacements), examples of reliability and life models of guns were developed in reference to the applicable operating standards and changes in total costs. This was followed by a demonstration of an innovative model of mapping gun (production/purchase and operating) costs with a complex number plane. The method presented herein facilitates analysing and assessing the feasibility for improvement of a gun’s availability in combat field and training operations.

Fields of Combat: Understanding PTSD among Veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan

Fields of Combat: Understanding PTSD among Veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan

ARTILERY BATTLE SPACE SIMULATOR – TRAINER “ANTRACYT PLUS”

The paper presents a combat field artillery simulator-trainer ANTRACYT PLUS developed in the Military Institute of Armament Technology. The principle of operation is based on deployment of real equipment to be used by the trainees whereas the effects of their actions are reflected in a virtual space. The simulator is driven by VBS (Virtual Battle Space) which provides a faithful simulation of terrain and troops operations at various combat scenarios. It is used by many NATO armies in designs of different simulators and trainers. A wide spectrum of animations for terrain, weather, field conditions, types of ordnance, personnel, reaction of objects against different actions, etc., provides a dynamic and realistic battle field. A simulator presented in the paper is designated for training and practising parts and complete artillery subunits on fire control, mission planning, and interoperability with the supported troops and assigned reconnaissance means (UAV, radar station, plane, helicopter and other).

Precariousness and Philosophical Critique: Towards an Open-Field Combat with Harman’s OOO

Abstract Philosophical critiques are prone to relapse into a sort of entrenchment in which the basic elements of a philosophy are kept from exposure, so that instead of advancing, philosophy easily becomes compartmentalized into specific trends. This article thus seeks the conditions of a non-entrenched, open-field philosophical critique in general and, in particular, of an open-field critique of Harman’s OOO (object-oriented ontology). For that purpose, the idea of precariousness is introduced, which is then confronted with some ideas concerning philosophical critique and practice, in particular those of François Laruelle. Since we can find in Harman’s OOO an outline of what we call here an open-field critique, the field of combat against Harman will be the one concerning the idea of an open field itself.

Perceived supernatural support heightens battle confidence: a knife combat field study

ABSTRACTReligiosity has been historically linked with propensities for both antisocial aggression and prosocial bravery, and prior research employing indirect measures affirms that envisioning the support of supernatural agents promotes confidence in engaging in violent conflict. Here, we provide the first test of this hypothesis within a realistic combat paradigm (i.e., simulated knife fighting). We primed the presence of supernatural aid and collected measures of trait religiosity as well as political orientation, which typically covaries with religiosity and has been similarly linked with battle confidence in prior research. Consistent with predictions, participants evinced greater confidence in their own performance in an imminent knife battle following a guided visualization exercise analogous to prayer summoning supernatural aid. Moreover, individual differences in trait religiosity comparably predicted battle confidence, an effect that was not accounted for by covarying differences in political orientation, which also predicted battle confidence if analyzed independently of religiosity. Against expectations, we observed limited effects of the visualization manipulation or religiosity, and no effect of political orientation, on coalitional confidence in the groups participants fought alongside. These results, derived from unusually valid methods, are discussed as they extend prior research on the confidence-enhancing effects of perceived supernatural support.

Chest Ultrasonography in Modern Day Extreme Settings: From Military Setting and Natural Disasters to Space Flights and Extreme Sports.

Chest ultrasonography (CU) is a noninvasive imaging technique able to provide an immediate diagnosis of the underlying aetiology of acute respiratory failure and traumatic chest injuries. Given the great technologies, it is now possible to perform accurate CU in remote and adverse environments including the combat field, extreme sport settings, and environmental disasters, as well as during space missions. Today, the usage of CU in the extreme emergency setting is more likely to occur, as this technique proved to be a fast diagnostic tool to assist resuscitation manoeuvres and interventional procedures in many cases. A scientific literature review is presented here. This was based on a systematic search of published literature, on the following online databases: PubMed and Scopus. The following words were used: “chest sonography,” “ thoracic ultrasound,” and “lung sonography,” in different combinations with “extreme sport,” “extreme environment,” “wilderness,” “catastrophe,” and “extreme conditions.” This manuscript reports the most relevant usages of CU in the extreme setting as well as technological improvements and current limitations. CU application in the extreme setting is further encouraged here.

A Study on the Tactical Safety of Endotracheal Intubation Under Darkness.

Strict blackout discipline is extremely important for all military units. To be able to effectively determine wound characteristics and perform the necessary interventions at nighttime, vision and light restrictions can be mitigated through the use of tactical night vision goggles (NVGs). The lamp of the classical laryngoscope (CL) can be seen with the naked eye; infrared light, on the other hand, cannot be perceived without the use of NVGs. The aim of the study is to evaluate the safety of endotracheal intubation (ETI) procedures in the dark under tactically safe conditions with modified laryngoscope (ML) model. We developed an ML model by changing the standard lamp on a CL with an infrared light-emitting diode lamp to obtain a tool which can be used to perform ETI under night conditions in combination with NVGs. We first evaluated the safety of ETI procedures in prehospital conditions under darkness by using both the CL and the ML for the study, and then researched the procedures and methods by which ETI procedure could be performed in the dark under tactically safe conditions. In addition, to better ensure light discipline in the field of combat, we also researched the benefits, from a light discipline standpoint, of using the poncho liner (PL) and of taking advantage of the oropharyngeal region during ETIs performed by opening the laryngoscope blades directly in the mouth and using a cover. During the ETI procedures performed on the field, two experienced combatant staff simulated the enemy by determining whether the light from the two different types of laryngoscope could be seen at 100-m intervals up to 1,500 m. In all scenarios, performing observations with an NVG was more advantageous for the enemy than with the naked eye. The best measure that can be taken against this threat by the paramedic is to ensure tactical safety by having an ML and by opening the ML inside the mouth with the aid of a PL. The findings of the study are likely to shed light on the tactical safety of ETI performed with NVGs under darkness. Considering this finding, we still strongly recommend that it would be relatively safer to open the ML blade inside the mouth and to perform the procedures under a PL. In chaotic environments where it might become necessary to provide civilian health services for humanitarian aid purposes (Red Crescent, Red Cross, etc.) without NVGs, we believe that it would be relatively safer to open the CL blade inside the mouth and to perform the procedures under a PL.

Der Pragmatismus zwischen Naturalismus und Experientalismus

Abstract Comparing Hans Joas’s book (Die Sakralität der Person, Berlin 2011) with its critique by Anton Leist (“Kann personale Heiligkeit Menschenrechte fördern?”, in this journal), I differentiate different fields of combat. The mainstream of Leist’s criticism is, I think, misdirected. Leist accuses Joas of ‘Christianising’ human rights, which alleges a binary logic (either religious or secular justifications of human rights) that does not do justice to Joas’s approach. For Joas, human rights are something in their own right which emerged from secular and religious discourse and hence cannot be reduced to either of them. I criticize Leist’s effort to draft a new justification of human rights in terms of interests and the counter-intuitive and revisionary consequences of this. Here, Joas’s ‘experientalism’ is to be preferred, because it remains loyal to human rights (that is the point of “affirmative genealogy”). I agree with Leist’s claim, however, that Joas could have made a much stronger case for the secular version of his argument, perhaps by using other authors. As it stands now, Joas’s book can be (mis)read as an effort to re-Christianise human rights. (This would no longer be affirmative, but revisionary as well.) The idea of an „affirmative genealogy“ is an ingenious methodological innovation that allows the combination of normative philosophy with sociological contextualisation (this latter usually has a rather destructive effect on ‘meaning‘). Yet the question remains whether a contextualisation of peoples experiences and emotions, which leads them to believing in certain norms, can also be read as a philosophical justification of these norms.

Doctrina Damasco: eje articulador de la segunda gran reforma del Ejército Nacional de Colombia

El Ejército de Colombia se encauza de manera permanente a vencer los desafíos que enfrenta en la actualidad y avizorar los del futuro. Esta realidad le exige que, en el contexto de sus sistemas de gestión estratégica, considere continuamente procesos de modernización y adaptación que le permitan desarrollar capacidades para dar respuestas oportunas, eficaces y sustentables a los requerimientos estratégicos que surgen del estudio del campo de combate, así como de los entornos nacional, regional y mundial. Consecuente con lo anterior, el Ejército debe realizar un ajuste al sistema doctrinal poniéndose a tono con las realidades locales, regionales y globales. Con la doctrina Damasco se comenzará a cerrar una brecha histórica que el Ejército Nacional de Colombia estaba en mora de consolidar, en el sentido de pensar en una doctrina enfocada a diseñar una verdadera capacidad de disuasión, frente a las potenciales amenazas internas y externas, antrópicas y no antrópicas. La doctrina como componente de capacidad, condiciona la organización, el material y el equipo, el personal, la infraestructura, el liderazgo, la educación y el mantenimiento, por ello la doctrina Damasco se constituye en el eje articulador del plan de transformación institucional.

A quantum encoding bat algorithm for uninhabited combat aerial vehicle path planning

Uninhabited combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) path planning aims to obtain an optimal or near-optimal flight path considering the different kinds of threats and constraints in the combat field. This paper proposes a novel quantum encoding bat algorithm (QBA) for solving the path planning of UCAV. Using quantum rotation and quantum NOT gate are implemented to change the basic qubit states and to enhance global search capability. The QBA can find a feasible and global path for the UCAV to avoid the threats and constraints. The experimental results show that the proposed QBA algorithm is an effective and feasible method in solving UCAV path planning problem than some well-known algorithms.

섬광에 의하여 사람 눈에 입사되는 광 에너지

Since a flash light produces enormous amount of photon energy in short time, not only electro-optic and infrared(EO/IR) systems utilized for Intelligence Surveillance Target Acquisition and reconnaissance(ISTAR) activities but also the people of a combat field can be severely influenced by a high flash light bursting in front of them. The people who bumped into a flash could not escape such enormous amount of photon energy, resulting in being blind temporarily or even permanently. In order to investigate the effect of a high flash source on a human eye, it is essential to know how much photon energy be incident into an eye from the flash source. In this paper, the model of irradiated photon energy to individuals from some flashes is proposed. The proposed irradiated photon energy per unit area of retina is based on taking the situation to be modeled as a simple EO system in front of a flash light. The validity of proposed model was proved by the application of the model to human on the surface of the earth with the well known light source, the Sun. The model of this study can be utilized to simulate the retinal intensity and energy of a flash for various conditions such as the illumination levels, the distance from a flash busting site, luminous intensity and time of a flash.

Grey wolf optimizer for unmanned combat aerial vehicle path planning

Unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) path planning is a fairly complicated global optimum problem, which aims to obtain an optimal or near-optimal flight route with the threats and constraints in the combat field well considered. A new meta-heuristic grey wolf optimizer (GWO) is proposed to solve the UCAV two-dimension path planning problem. Then, the UCAV can find the safe path by connecting the chosen nodes of the two-dimensional coordinates while avoiding the threats areas and costing minimum fuel. Conducted simulations show that the proposed method is more competent for the UCAV path planning scheme than other state-of-the-art evolutionary algorithms considering the quality, speed, and stability of final solutions.

Biologically Inspired Control Of A Fleet Of Uavs With Threat Evasion Strategy

AbstractIn this paper, navigation algorithms for a fleet of multiple nonholonomic UAVs capable of evading a chasing predator and also pursuing a desired target are proposed. The proposed biologically‐inspired navigation algorithms are used to define path planning trajectories which are tracked by a designed backstepping tracking controller. We implement the group of nonholonomic UAVs in an adaptive network, specifically inspired by the relationship between a school of fish and a predator. This approach approximately simulates an air combat field. To put this in context, the aim is to use a biologically inspired algorithm along with a designed controller to achieve both target pursuance and effective evasion from a predator. This is equivalent to having multiple UAVs on the same mission of attacking a target, while also aware of a predator on pursuit. The UAVs aim to maneuver and evade the predator while also coordinating their movement and behaviors in a cooperative and coherent manner.