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#21
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In article ,
"Kevin Brooks" writes: "M" *@*.* wrote in message ... Paul J. Adam Built Up Areas, we aren't necessarily just fighting there) which means a lot of voice communication: it's hard enough to hear shouted commands from downstairs or around a corner as is, without ear plugs in place. So, you risk ringing ears and partial HF deafness later on, in order to keep control of your fireteam during the action. Why on Earth aren't active (electronic) ear mufflers used nowadays? Like many hunters and shooters have done for quite some time. Trying to wear ear muffs under a kevlar helmet would be a bit of a chore, for one. I'd guess that some sort of hearing enhancement and noise suppression system is included in the Army's various future soldier equipment research efforts now underway, but the biggest stumbling block to all of these new systems (to include personal HUD's, etc.) right now is *power*, and your muffs just add to that--another power-demanding device. Many Army leaders have identified the need for lightweight, long-lasting batteries/power supplies as being the biggest single hurdle we have to get across if we are going to see "robosoldier" type systems go beyond the R&D effort to actual fielding; right now we are just not there yet. The size of the muffs is a problem as well. If I'm shooting a small rifle, like an M-16 or Mini-14, the shell of the muff is resting on the stock, and all of the sound goes to my right ear (and jaw) by this direct contact. No amount of noise-cancelling gizmos can fix that. -- Pete Stickney A strong conviction that something must be done is the parent of many bad measures. -- Daniel Webster |
#22
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"George Ruch" wrote in message ... If you let some outside sound through, the system would have to be designed to digitally filter the sounds of gun fire. It's possible - I've seen audio noise reduction systems (dbx, IIRC) that effectively filtered only the transient noise (clicks, pops, etc.) from vinyl recordings. The question is would you want to do that if recognizing those sounds and being able to place them in your field of hearing could be the difference between life and death in a firefight? In that case, simple attenuation may be the better solution. Yes. You can't just arbitrarily clip the power of a wave form very much and leave it a recognizable sound. There has to be a proportional reduction of each part for it to remain the same sound. And if you want to be able to judge distances by sounds you have to suppress the not too loud sounds as well. Simply blanking out moments of excess volume would leave the troops walking deafly around corners in to firing muzzles. Perhaps you could substitute a tone that changed in frequency based on the noise level to let the user know there's loud noises about. |
#23
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In article , "Kevin Brooks"
wrote: "M" *@*.* wrote in message ... Paul J. Adam Built Up Areas, we aren't necessarily just fighting there) which means a lot of voice communication: it's hard enough to hear shouted commands from downstairs or around a corner as is, without ear plugs in place. So, you risk ringing ears and partial HF deafness later on, in order to keep control of your fireteam during the action. Why on Earth aren't active (electronic) ear mufflers used nowadays? Like many hunters and shooters have done for quite some time. Trying to wear ear muffs under a kevlar helmet would be a bit of a chore, for one. I'd guess that some sort of hearing enhancement and noise suppression system is included in the Army's various future soldier equipment research efforts now underway, but the biggest stumbling block to all of these new systems (to include personal HUD's, etc.) right now is *power*, and your muffs just add to that--another power-demanding device. Many Army leaders have identified the need for lightweight, long-lasting batteries/power supplies as being the biggest single hurdle we have to get across if we are going to see "robosoldier" type systems go beyond the R&D effort to actual fielding; right now we are just not there yet. I've been using Peltor electronic ears for over a year and they work great, but they are too big for some applications. OTOH, I have seen the same principle in a hearing-aid sized device that fits into the ear with custom earpieces. These electronic ears don't seem to clip too much off the normal hearing, just the peaks. I did a program the year before last that needed to use LiMnO2 and LiSO2 batteries. Found out that the US Army is the world's biggest user of batteries. -- Harry Andreas Engineering raconteur |
#24
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#25
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"Harry Andreas" wrote in message ... In article , "Kevin Brooks" wrote: "M" *@*.* wrote in message ... Paul J. Adam Built Up Areas, we aren't necessarily just fighting there) which means a lot of voice communication: it's hard enough to hear shouted commands from downstairs or around a corner as is, without ear plugs in place. So, you risk ringing ears and partial HF deafness later on, in order to keep control of your fireteam during the action. Why on Earth aren't active (electronic) ear mufflers used nowadays? Like many hunters and shooters have done for quite some time. Trying to wear ear muffs under a kevlar helmet would be a bit of a chore, for one. I'd guess that some sort of hearing enhancement and noise suppression system is included in the Army's various future soldier equipment research efforts now underway, but the biggest stumbling block to all of these new systems (to include personal HUD's, etc.) right now is *power*, and your muffs just add to that--another power-demanding device. Many Army leaders have identified the need for lightweight, long-lasting batteries/power supplies as being the biggest single hurdle we have to get across if we are going to see "robosoldier" type systems go beyond the R&D effort to actual fielding; right now we are just not there yet. I've been using Peltor electronic ears for over a year and they work great, but they are too big for some applications. OTOH, I have seen the same principle in a hearing-aid sized device that fits into the ear with custom earpieces. These electronic ears don't seem to clip too much off the normal hearing, just the peaks. I did a program the year before last that needed to use LiMnO2 and LiSO2 batteries. Found out that the US Army is the world's biggest user of batteries. Not a bit surprising. Every company level supply room I ever used or visited had a full size refrigerator which was to be used for battery storage (and of course for the supply sergeants lunch, etc...). Radios used the lithium batteries, and you'd be surprised at the number of plain ol' D-cells a unit required, to operate everything from the landlines (TA-312's) and switchboard to the ubiquitous flashlights. I understand the R&D folks are really pushing for lightweight fuel cells to take over a lot of the load in the not-too-distant future. Brooks -- Harry Andreas Engineering raconteur |
#26
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Howard Berkowitz wrote: In article , (Harry Andreas) wrote: I did a program the year before last that needed to use LiMnO2 and LiSO2 batteries. Found out that the US Army is the world's biggest user of batteries. In other words, assault is impossible without battery. "The scramble to find batteries and get them to troops fighting in Operation Iraqi Freedom is leading to a policy review of non-rechargeable batteries, as well as an examination of alternative power sources, such as fuel cells and solar panels. Inadequate inventories of military batteries almost led U.S. forces to cease operations or alter tactics during Operation Iraqi Freedom. But several U.S. manufacturers helped avert a potential crisis by slowly replenishing stocks of the non-rechargeable BA 5990 battery, said a Navy official. Navy Capt. Clark Driscoll, the Defense Contract Management Agency liaison to the Joint Staff, said lack of funding had left the inventory of BA 5590s in “bad shape for a long time.” The BA 5590 is the military’s most widely used portable power source, operating a variety of communications devices. “We literally [came] within days of running out of these batteries—where major combat operations would either have ceased or changed in their character because of the lack of battery support,” Driscoll said in remarks to the Tri-Service Power Expo, in Norfolk, Va." http://www.nationaldefensemagazine.o...le.cfm?id=1190 |
#27
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"John Keeney" wrote:
"George Ruch" wrote in message .. . [...] The question is would you want to do that if recognizing those sounds and being able to place them in your field of hearing could be the difference between life and death in a firefight? In that case, simple attenuation may be the better solution. Yes. You can't just arbitrarily clip the power of a wave form very much and leave it a recognizable sound. [...] Simply blanking out moments of excess volume would leave the troops walking deafly around corners in to firing muzzles. Perhaps you could substitute a tone that changed in frequency based on the noise level to let the user know there's loud noises about. Possible, but with everything else going on (HUDs, data links, etc.) we're quickly entering the realm of Heinlein's powered suits from _Starship Troopers_ (the original book, not the movie). There's a description in the book a system that would make a fighter pilot feel right at home. I have a copy around here somewhere. I'll dig it out when I can. | George Ruch | "Is there life in Clovis after Clovis Man?" |
#28
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"George Ruch" wrote in message ... "John Keeney" wrote: "George Ruch" wrote in message .. . [...] The question is would you want to do that if recognizing those sounds and being able to place them in your field of hearing could be the difference between life and death in a firefight? In that case, simple attenuation may be the better solution. Yes. You can't just arbitrarily clip the power of a wave form very much and leave it a recognizable sound. [...] Simply blanking out moments of excess volume would leave the troops walking deafly around corners in to firing muzzles. Perhaps you could substitute a tone that changed in frequency based on the noise level to let the user know there's loud noises about. Possible, but with everything else going on (HUDs, data links, etc.) we're quickly entering the realm of Heinlein's powered suits from _Starship Troopers_ (the original book, not the movie). There's a description in the book a system that would make a fighter pilot feel right at home. Power is one of the two or three things that are holding the military up in adopting exoskeletons: prototypes -or perhaps proof of concept units- have been demonstrated and they are nothing short of amazing in what they allow the wearer to do. I have a copy around here somewhere. I'll dig it out when I can. I suspect most of us in RAM have a copy lurking about some where. Directed energy weapons are dang near here and power suits might not be that far behind. |
#29
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"John Keeney" wrote:
"George Ruch" wrote in message .. . Possible, but with everything else going on (HUDs, data links, etc.) we're quickly entering the realm of Heinlein's powered suits from _Starship Troopers_ (the original book, not the movie). There's a description in the book of a system that would make a fighter pilot feel right at home. Power is one of the two or three things that are holding the military up in adopting exoskeletons: prototypes -or perhaps proof of concept units- have been demonstrated and they are nothing short of amazing in what they allow the wearer to do. Interesting. I'll have to look that up. power demands, there's a discussion upthread concerning a shortage of field battery packs. Makes me wonder if we should become even more technology dependent. Directed energy weapons are dang near here and power suits might not be that far behind. Airborne laser systems, some of the Star Wars stuff. Makes me want very much to know there's a sane person in control of the fire button. | George Ruch | "Is there life in Clovis after Clovis Man?" |
#30
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In message , George Ruch
writes "John Keeney" wrote: Perhaps you could substitute a tone that changed in frequency based on the noise level to let the user know there's loud noises about. Possible, but with everything else going on (HUDs, data links, etc.) we're quickly entering the realm of Heinlein's powered suits from _Starship Troopers_ (the original book, not the movie). There's a description in the book a system that would make a fighter pilot feel right at home. Heinlein understood the virtue of simplicity and transparency, when it came to equipment. "This leaves you with your whole mind free to handle your weapons and notice what is going on around you... which is *supremely* important to an infantryman who wants to die in bed. If you load a mudfoot down with a lot of gadgets that he has to watch, someone a lot more simply equipped - say with a stone ax - will sneak up and bash his head in while he is trying to read a vernier." -- He thinks too much: such men are dangerous. Julius Caesar I:2 Paul J. Adam MainBoxatjrwlynch[dot]demon{dot}co(.)uk |
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