Tag Archives: precision

Ukraine’s Drone Attack System Dubbed a ‘Virus’ for Its Game-Like Precision

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A drone attack system resembling a computer game is “rapidly spreading” within Ukrainian military units and is being expanded to cover reconnaissance, artillery, and logistics operations, as reported by Mykhailo Fedorov, the country’s first deputy prime minister, to the Guardian.

In September, drone teams competing under the Drone Corps Bonus System were credited with killing or injuring 18,000 Russian soldiers, with participation growing from 95 to 400 drone squads within one month, according to Ukrainian officials.

This system, initiated over a year ago, rewards soldiers for successful strikes by awarding points that can be exchanged for additional weapons from an online store dubbed Brave1, which features over 100 types of drones, self-driving vehicles, and various drone warfare equipment. Teams with creative names such as Achilles and Phoenix currently lead the scoreboard.




Brave1 online store. Photo: https://market-brave1.delta.mil.gov.ua/katalog/filter/icons=11;page=3;presence=1/

Fedorov noted that the system has gained “tremendous popularity among troops” and exemplifies the growing automation in combat. “The Defense Forces are all aware, and there’s a competition for points to acquire drones, electronic warfare systems, and other equipment that enhances combat effectiveness. The more infantry you take down, the more drones can eliminate additional infantry. It’s becoming a self-sustaining cycle.”

Russian casualties in September were reported to be double those of the previous October, partly due to the Ukrainian government increasing the points awarded for killing Russian infantry from six to twelve, highlighting shifting battlefield priorities.

Ukrainian intelligence suggests that Russia might be developing its own version of this gamification approach. Additionally, Ukraine is expanding the Destroy Points concept to artillery units, providing them with success points that can be used to acquire new armaments. Reconnaissance teams are also earning points for identifying enemy targets, while logistics units are beginning to gain points for utilizing self-driving vehicles in front-line resupply efforts.

Fedorov disclosed that the Ukrainian military is promoting the use of drones partially directed by artificial intelligence, enhancing target selection and controlling the final moments of the drones’ trajectory to boost attack precision.

Scouts accumulate points through a system dubbed “Uber targeting,” reminiscent of the global ride-hailing app.

“Essentially, you drop a pin on a map similar to requesting a ride on an Uber app, but in this case, a drone from a different unit engages the target,” he explained.

Despite the point-based system’s expansion, there are warnings that over-reliance on drone warfare may not be a model for NATO countries to emulate, as Russian defenses against such aerial attacks have become significantly robust. Experts from the Royal United Services Institute have recently highlighted the need for renewed focus on conventional artillery and air support.

In addition to raising the points for infantry kills to align with Russia’s increased deployment of infantry, killing an enemy drone operator grants 25 points, while capturing a Russian soldier with a drone nets 120 points, reflecting Ukraine’s need for prisoners of war for potential exchanges. Although these point values have received official approval, Fedorov mentioned they have become “almost devoid of emotion” in assigning value to human life.

“We’ve been engaged in a war for four consecutive years and it’s been challenging,” he stated. “We aim to enhance effectiveness. We perceive this as part of our regular operations. It’s largely devoid of emotional contemplation. It resembles technical work because if we don’t halt the enemy, they will kill military personnel, and once that happens, they will come for civilians—conquering, destroying, and killing.”

Ukrainian drone operators may be positioned as close as 250 meters to the front lines or as far as three kilometers away, often concealed behind computer screens while directing assaults, sometimes utilizing video game controllers. Achilles is recognized as one of the top 10 successful drone regiments, operating in the eastern Kharkiv and Donetsk regions. Commander Yuri Fedorenko noted that the most effective pilots are not necessarily those skilled in video games.

“The best pilots are those with discipline,” he remarked. “Younger individuals may be able to stay awake longer and require less recovery time, but discipline is the hallmark of a good drone operator.”

He also downplayed the notion that this initiative amounts to the “gamification” of warfare, stating that directives are sometimes issued to target low-point objectives to meet immediate combat needs.

“This is war, so our primary focus must be on completing the mission,” he said. “That’s our priority, not chasing points.”

“There’s competition across the unit. Drone operators are in competition with one another. Groups of drone operators compete against other groups. Even the highest-ranking commanders engage in competition,” explained Andrii Poltolatskyi, another commander in the drone unit.

He characterized it more as a constructive competition than a playful one, noting that when Russia initiates an attack, “the competition ceases and everyone… collaborates towards the goal of protecting Ukrainian lives, irrespective of the points involved.”

Fedorov stated that the scoring system has provided valuable data, enhancing Ukraine’s “understanding of the mathematics of war.”

“Thanks to the points, we are beginning to comprehend the realities of the battlefield,” he mentioned. “To earn points, [drone units] must submit a verification video. This way, we gain insights into the targets being engaged, their locations relative to the contact line, and the drones and other assets being utilized.

“This enables us to evaluate what strategies are proving effective and which are not. The leaderboard encourages units to learn from each other. Leaders are beginning to mentor and cultivate emerging talent… Innovation emerges from the ground up.”

Source: www.theguardian.com

Physicists Achieve Unmatched Precision in Measuring Magnetic Anomalies in Mines

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Researchers from the Muon G-2 Experiment have unveiled their third measurement of the Muon magnetic anomaly. The conclusive results align with findings published in 2021 and 2023 but boast significantly improved precision at 127 parts per billion, surpassing the experimental goal for 140 people.

Muon particles traveling through lead in the cloud chamber. Image credit: Jino John 1996 / cc by-sa 4.0.

The Muon G-2 experiment investigates the wobble of a fundamental particle known as the Muon.

Muons resemble electrons but are roughly 200 times more massive. Like electrons, they exhibit quantum mechanical properties called spins, which can be interpreted as tiny internal magnets.

When subjected to an external magnetic field, these internal magnets wobble akin to the axis of a spinning top.

The precession speed of a magnetic field is influenced by the muon’s characteristics, captured numerically as the G-factor.

Theoretical physicists derive G-factors based on our current understanding of the universe’s fundamental mechanics, as outlined in the standard model of particle physics.

Nearly a century ago, G was anticipated to be 2; however, experimental measurements revealed minor deviations from this value, quantified as the Muon magnetic anomaly, Aμ, based on the formula (G-2)/2, giving the Muon G-2 experiment its name.

Muon magnetic anomalies encapsulate the effects of all standard model particles, enabling theoretical physicists to compute these contributions with remarkable precision.

Earlier measurements conducted at the Brookhaven National Laboratory during the 1990s and 2000s indicated potential discrepancies with the theoretical calculations of that era.

Disparities between experimental results and theoretical predictions could signal the existence of new physics.

In particular, physicists contemplated whether these discrepancies could stem from an undetected particle influencing the muon’s precession.

Consequently, physicists opted to enhance the Muon G-2 experiments to obtain more accurate measurements.

In 2013, Brookhaven’s magnetic storage ring was relocated from Long Island, New York, to Fermilab in Batavia, Illinois.

Following extensive upgrades and enhancements, the Fermilab Muon G-2 experiment launched on May 31, 2017.

Simultaneously, an international collaboration among theorists established the Muon G-2 theory initiative aimed at refining theoretical calculations.

In 2020, the Theoretical Initiative released updated and more precise standard model values informed by data from other experiments.

The differences between the experimental results continued to widen in 2021 as Fermilab announced the initial experimental results, corroborating Brookhaven’s findings with improved accuracy.

Simultaneously, new theoretical predictions emerged, relying significantly on computational capabilities.

This information closely aligned with experimental measurements and narrowed the existing discrepancies.

Recently, the Theoretical Initiative published a new set of predictions integrating results from various groups using novel calculation techniques.

This result remains in close agreement with experimental findings and diminishes the likelihood of new physics.

Nevertheless, theoretical endeavors will persist in addressing the disparities between data-driven and computational approaches.

The latest experimental values for the muon magnetic moment from Fermilab’s experiments are:

aμ =(g-2)/2 (Muon experiment) = 0.001 165 920 705

This final measurement is based on an analysis of data collected over the past three years, spanning 2021 to 2023, and is integrated with previously published datasets.

This has more than tripled the dataset size utilized in the second results from 2023, achieving the precision target set in 2012.

Moreover, it signifies the analysis of the highest quality data from the experiment.

As the second data collection run concluded, the Muon G-2 collaboration finalized adjustments and enhancements to the experiment, boosting muon beam quality and minimizing uncertainties.

“The extraordinary magnetic moment of the muon (G-2) is pivotal as it provides a sensitive test of the standard model of particle physics,” remarked Regina Lameika, associate director of high energy physics at the U.S. Department of Energy.

“This is an exhilarating result, and it’s fantastic to witness the experiment reach a definitive conclusion with precise measurements.”

“This highly anticipated outcome represents a remarkable achievement in accuracy and will hold the title of the most precise measurement of muon magnetic anomalies for the foreseeable future.”

“Despite recent theoretical challenges that have lessened the evidence for new physics in Muon G-2, this finding presents a robust benchmark for proposed extensions to the standard model of particle physics.”

“This is an incredibly exciting moment; not only did we meet our objectives, but we surpassed them, indicating that such precision measurements are challenging.”

“Thanks to Fermilab, the funding agencies, and the host lab, we accomplished our goals successfully.”

“For over a century, the G-2 has imparted crucial insights into the nature of reality,” stated Lawrence Gibbons, a professor at Cornell University.

“It’s thrilling to contribute accurate measurements that are likely to endure for a long time.”

“For decades, muon magnetic moments have served as a significant benchmark for the standard models,” noted Dr. Simon Kolody, a physicist at Argonne National Laboratory.

“The new experimental results illuminate this fundamental theory and establish a benchmark to guide new theoretical calculations.”

These new results will be featured in the journal Physical Review Letters.

Source: www.sci.news

Start-Up Space Clock: Precision Countdown to Catastrophe

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Canadarm2, ISS robot arm built by the Canadian Space Agency

ESA/NASA

The most accurate clock in space will start within a few days and start building highly synced networks from the best clocks on the planet. However, the project will only work for a few decades, and only a few years before it burns out as hair removal for the International Space Station at the end of the decade.

Atomic Clock in Space (ACES) is a European Space Agency (ESA) mission that generates time signals with unprecedented accuracy and transmits them to nine ground stations via lasers as they pass over the overhead at 27,000 km/h. This watch network is very closely synchronized and provides extremely accurate timekeeping around the world.

As a result, ACES can test Einstein’s theory of general relativity. This states that the passage of time is influenced by the strength of gravity and is very accurately affected. It also supports all research, from dark matter to string theory.

ACES is scheduled to be released on April 21st for the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Kennedy Space Center, Florida. Upon reaching the ISS, the Canadarm2, the Canadian Space Agency’s robotic arm, attaches it to the outside of ESA’s Columbus Laboratory, where it remains in a vacuum in the space.

The package actually consists of two clocks. One is called SHM, which can be kept stable for a short period of time. Together, these watches are extremely accurate, losing less than a second for over 300 million years. It is 10 times more accurate than a GPS satellite clock.

Pharaohs are basically modeled on Paris’ atomic clocks that occupy the entire room. Its technology was no more than a cubic meter, miniaturization to something that could allow rocket launches and survive the harshness of living in space was by no means a feat.

To generate an accurate clock signal, the pharaoh expels a fountain of cesium atoms cooled to absolute zero and observes its interaction with the microwave field. On Earth, devices of 3 meters are required, but at microgravity, these atoms move slowly and are sprayed into smaller fountains, making them much smaller.

Simon Weinberg The ESA says that simply placing a teaspoon close can create an electromagnetic field strong enough to destroy the watch. “Just putting it in context, it’s better than the 100 million seconds we’re trying to measure here,” says Weinberg. “So it’s one hell of challenging work.”

The ACES concept dates back to the 1990s and was originally scheduled to be released at the Space Shuttle, which retired in 2011. Once you reach space, the first signal will not reach the Earth-bound clock for a year and a half. It takes about six months to outsource the device.

The ACES then operates until 2030, after which the ISS intentionally crashes into the Earth’s atmosphere and burns out. By that point, the new ultra-precision watch known as optical watches likely have created an atomic clock that has become obsolete on Earth, but by then it may not be small or robust enough to be used in space.

At one point, Weinberg says the ESA is aiming to launch a new generation of ACEs to replace what was lost in the ISS, whatever the technology was most appropriate back then. “We’ll go a long way from doing it, and we have to gather support, fundraising and more to make sure that happens.”

topic:

  • time/
  • International Space Station

Source: www.newscientist.com

Astronomers achieve unparalleled precision in measuring Uranus’ rotational speed

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The rotation period for Uranus was estimated at 17.24 hours from radio auroral measurements by NASA’s Voyager 2 spacecraft in 1986. Using long-term tracking of Uranus’ poles between 2011 and 2022 from Hubble images of UV light, astronomers now have an updated independent, highly accurate rotation period of 17.247864 hours, or 28 seconds longer than the estimated Voyager 2.

This image of the Uranus aurora was photographed by Hubble on October 10th, 2022. Image credit: NASA/ESA/Hubble/L. Ramie/L. Slomovsky.

“Our measurements not only provide essential references to the planetary science community, they solve long-standing problems. Previous coordinate systems based on outdated rotation periods quickly become inaccurate, making it impossible to track Uranus’ magnetic poles.

“With this new longitude system, we can compare nearly 40 years of observations of the Aurora and even plan future Uranus missions.”

This breakthrough was possible thanks to long-term surveillance of Hubble’s Uranus.

For over a decade, telescopes have regularly observed their ultraviolet emissions, allowing astronomers to generate magnetic field models that match changes in the position of magnetic poles with time.

“The continuous observation from Hubble was extremely important,” Dr. Lammy said.

“Without this rich data, it would not have been possible to detect periodic signals at the level of accuracy achieved.”

Unlike Earth, Jupiter, or Saturn’s aurora, Uranus’ aurora behaves in a unique and unpredictable way.

This is due to the highly tilted magnetic field of the planet, which is significantly offset from the axis of rotation.

The findings not only help astronomers understand Uranus’ magnetosphere, but also help to provide important information for future missions.

“These discoveries set a stage for further research that will deepen our understanding of one of the most mystical planets in the solar system,” the author said in a statement.

“The ability to monitor objects for decades has allowed Hubble to remain an essential tool for planetary science, paving the way for the next era of exploration on Uranus.”

result It was published in the journal this week Natural Astronomy.

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L. Ramie et al. A new rotation period and longitude system for Uranus. Nut AthlonPublished online on April 7th, 2025. doi:10.1038/s41550-025-02492-z

Source: www.sci.news

Japan prepares for precision ‘lunar sniper’ landing mission

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TOKYO — Japan will attempt a precision landing on Friday, aiming to become the fifth country to land a spacecraft on the moon. This would be a boost for a space program that has been hit by a wave of setbacks and overshadowed by rival China.

was namedmoon sniper'', the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)'s spacecraft is attempting to land within 100 meters (328 feet) of its target, but JAXA says the technology is unprecedented and that it will It is said to be essential in the search for human habitability.

Japan is increasingly seeking to play a larger role in space, partnering with Washington to counter China's military and technological might.Japan boast In collaboration with many private space startup companies, astronaut To the moon as part of NASA's Artemis program.

However, JAXA has faced multiple setbacks, including launch failure In March, a new flagship rocket, the H3, was announced, aimed at matching cost competitiveness with private rocket providers like SpaceX.

JAXA's Smart Lander for Lunar Exploration (SLIM) spacecraft will begin its 20-minute touchdown phase on a one-way mission at midnight Saturday (15:00 GMT Friday), covering an area about two kinetic tracks on the lunar surface. Attempt to land at the target location. The slope of a crater just south of the moon's equator.

“No other country has achieved this. If Japan can prove that it has this technology, it will provide a huge advantage for future international missions like Artemis,” said Shinichiro Sakai, JAXA's SLIM project manager. said.

Chandrayaan 3 in India in August Had made The historic touchdown to the Moon's South Pole was a major technological feat considering the rugged terrain and underlines India's rise as a nation. Major players In space.

JAXA emphasizes that its high-precision technology will be a powerful tool in future exploration of the hilly lunar poles, which are considered a potential source of oxygen, fuel and water. Japan is also planning an unmanned lunar polar exploration jointly with India in 2025.

Professor Kazuto Saiki of Ritsumeikan University, who developed the SLIM near-infrared camera that analyzes lunar rocks after landing, says, “Japan cannot compete with the United States, China, and India in terms of resources when it comes to developing lunar surface projects.'' .

“We should focus on building popular technologies such as pinpoint landings and near-infrared cameras that foreign exploration projects aim to adopt.”

JAXA has twice landed on small asteroids, but landing on the moon is much more difficult due to gravity, as seen in many recent failures.

Last year, a Japanese probe to start ispace crashes into the moon RussiaThe Luna 25 followed suit. A lander from American startup Astrobotic suffered a fuel leak last week. Force Giving up a touchdown attempt.

“Mistakes happen, but Japan is a very experienced space power and has been conducting very complex space operations for many years,” said Bredin Bowen, an associate professor at the University of Leicester who specializes in space policy. To tell.

“Japan may not be as big as the old United States or the Soviet Union or today's China, but it has always been there in terms of capability and niche advanced technology.''

SLIM's high-precision landing “won't be a game changer,” but its demonstration and the construction of lightweight spacecraft that Japan has been pursuing could reduce the cost of each mission and bring moonshots to space agencies around the world. Bowen added that there is.

JAXA says it will take up to a month to verify whether SLIM achieved its high-precision goals after touchdown.

Upon landing, SLIM will also deploy two mini-probes, a hopping vehicle the size of a microwave oven and a wheeled rover the size of a baseball, to take photos of the spacecraft. The robot was jointly developed by technology giant Sony Group, toy maker Takara Tomy, and several Japanese universities.


Source: www.nbcnews.com