How will nanotech change warfare??

While doing a bit of catch up reading I ran across this fascinating thread on a group for SciFi writers... Not your hack writers but people who really put in the time to research their subject and there I found this thread... "How will nanotech change warfare??" I'll share one respondents post with you...

Off the top of my (bald) head....... 1. Medical nanotech- microbots that can enter the bloodstream will be able to effect repairs to internal injuries, seal ruptured organs and blood vessels, etc., that cannot be treated effectively by present-day AAMF (Advanced Area Medical Facility, the modern-day MASH) techniques. Result; more WIAs survive, including ones who would be triage'd out today. Each soldier having his or her own "resident" team of nanomedics, injected during BT, is not out of the question. (Think of the advantages on a 24-hr furlough!) 2. Attack Nanotech; On the (nasty) flipside, the same technology would permit nanobots to be used to attack enemy troops. Release them into the air, they enter through the respiratory system- and suddenly, the enemy army all drop dead. (Or maybe just become willing, mindless slaves- courtesy of drugs plus impromptu brain surgery.) Needless to say, future "medical nanobots" will probably incorporate IFF and "active countermeasures" to protect their host from this sort of indignity. (One can imagine nanobots drawing their teeny-tiny cutlasses- well, molecular scalpels- and putting out an all-hands "Stand by to repel boarders!" call. Arr, matey.) 3. Nanoswarms- Less deadly, but more generally possible, short-term. Clouds of nanobots released over enemy forces. Mission; EAT said forces' vehicles. Did you ever see the "Rocky And Bullwinkle" cartoon with the six-foot metal-munching mice? Think six-nanometer, metal-and-composite-munching >termites

they're also coming up with gecko-gloves, and gecko tape.

gecko gloves will give humans the ability to climb on glass roofs and ceilings, much like geckos.

gecko tape will replace stitches. they are going to take the nanohairs, reproduce them in labs, and make them biocompatable.

Originally posted by LocoHombre
they're also coming up with gecko-gloves, and gecko tape.

gecko gloves will give humans the ability to climb on glass roofs and ceilings, much like geckos.

gecko tape will replace stitches. they are going to take the nanohairs, reproduce them in labs, and make them biocompatable.

you gotta admit that stuff is way cool... but if they can do that it begs the question....
so where the hell is my flying car?

reply to post by DaddyBare


I do not know.
but this nanotechnology is basically what gave us laptops, printers, and small refrigerators.



-Loco

[edit on 19-12-2009 by LocoHombre]

Op you have an interesting thread here.

I believe the nanotechnology will change warefare on the secret black ops scale. When you hear the reports of cancer fighting nanotech sending nano bots with medicine tanks that swim directly to cancerous cells all that the CIA has to do is replace the medicine with a nerve agent. Hook a little RF switch to the nanobots and they can deliver the toxin to any cell in the body and be activated by a certain radio frequency . Then all they would have to do is lay out nanobot infested candy bars all over the city and when the enemy eats them all, the whole army could be infected with the bots. When the time comes, just press transmit on your special radio and the whole enemy forces drops like flies due to the just released nerve toxin.



[edit on 19-12-2009 by wiredamerican]

Play Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots and you'll see how it will change war.

Couldnt you just create a virus contained within a nano prison, then use a area of effect or l.o.s. signal to release the pathogen?

This alone removes biology from warfare. This is why the future is robots....... well more like the future is a new stoneage. We dont see sentient species running around having massive space battles so obviosuly there is a limiting factor on how advanced a species gets.

smart dust -
bad dust -


www.youtube.com...
tankerenemy.blogspot.com...

The duration of symptoms depends partly on the rate of AChE reactivation. Spontaneous reactivation depends on the chemical structure attached to the enzyme. The reactivation of the inhibited enzyme can be facilitated considerably by special compounds (oxymes). Several of these compounds have become important antidotes in the treatment of pesticide poisonings. The inhibition enzyme may also be transformed into a state where no spontaneous reactivation occurs and where oximes are no longer capable of reactivating it. The phenomenon is called “aging” and is characterized by removal of one of the alkyl groups form the phosphoryl groups attached to the enzymes. The rapidity of inhibited AChE aging depends on the chemical nature of the phosphorylating materials.


It must be noted that in the materials previously found by other patients exposed to advance nanomicrobic materials/nano particles phosphorus was present in other exposed individuals. Over the last year the individual has experienced the following classical AChE symptoms with the appropriate site of action (target organ system): Site of Action Signs and Symptoms Eyes Increased lacrimation, slight myosis (occasional unequal, later marked, blurred vision, eye pain when focusing, frontal headaches, conjunctive hyperemia.
Respiratory System Rhinorrhea, hyperemia (local exposure), tightness in chest, Prolonged wheezing, bronchoconstriction, increased secretion, dispnea (not enough air), slight chest pain, cough, edema of the lung. Gastrointestinal System Increased salivation, anorexia, vomiting, abdominal Cramps, epigastric and substernal tightness (cardiospasm) with “heartburn” and eructation, diarrhea, tenesumus, involuntary defection (fecal incontinence).

Sweat Glands Increased sweating. Striated Muscles Easy fatigue, mild weakness, twitching, fasciculation’s (more Pronounced at the side of exposure), cramps, generalized weakness including respiratory muscles, dispnea, cyanosis.

more here
tankerenemy.blogspot.com...

reply to post by wiredamerican


Someone seems paranoid and against scientific advancement.

Just a thought but most here would agree Gene Roddenberry (Star Trek Creator) was a real visionary...
so keeping that in mind do you think its possible when he came up with the idea of "The Borg" he saw that, as our future???

Aside from newer types of Assymetrical warfare already being covered mostley above, i will add 2 more examples:

1: Improving munitions&explosives.

Nano tech can change the way how munitions are made and how explosives can be made far more powerfull then ever before.

By refining the gun powder grain to the molecular level, you can make far more powerfull rounds with the same basic dimensions and bullets themselves can be made more smooth to fly faster and have better penetration values.

A bombs explosive power can also be enhanced by utilising equipment that manipulates the explosive material at nano/molecular levels.

The Russian FOAB for instance has been produced with materials that were treated with nano technology and the impact that that made was very significant.

The Russian FOAB weights in at roughly 7.5 metric tonns yet it has an explosive power that equals roughly 45 metric tonns worth of TNT.

In practice this means that a SU-27/35 has the abillity to level a cityblock. or that a TU-160 can carpet bomb several cityblocks and thus, reduce a small city to ruins.

end of part 1. part 2 at next reply.

Continued with part 2:

2: Being the foundation of digitalising the soldier.

By giving the common soldier a multifunctional computer on the battlefield, he can look where he is, where he needs to be, where others are and most importantly, where enemy soldiers are likely to show up/be present.

AKA Situational awareness and gives the common soldier a feeling of power and controll, boosting morale and increasing the effectiveness of said soldier.

Processors are getting smaller and smaller. The next generation of Intel processors that are being planned to release next year are small (32NM!) and have a graphical chip onboard, enabeling a decrease in size of the mainboard.

This will have an affect on the size of the computers themselves and if the chips and circuitery are beefed up significantly, then you can have large cell-phone sized battle-computers that are multifunctional like the PC that you are behind now.

Battlefield computers can feature GPS, Chat functions (radio to HQ/teammembers etc.), camera, enemy vehicle recognition database and programs to fly UAV's/UCAV's.

As you can see, nano-tech is worth its weight in Platinum or even Diamond.